Starbucks, coffee giant and one of Seattle’s most prominent businesses, is facing backlash after announcing layoffs and store closures in several of their Seattle locations. Closures include the Capitol Hill Roastery and SoDo Reserve store, and are part of a company-wide restructuring effort aimed at “getting Back to Starbucks.” The decision comes amid operational changes that have left many employees questioning the company’s direction in its hometown.

In a Sept. 25 post titled “Seattle Is Our Hometown,” Starbucks said the closures “were not made lightly,” describing them as part of a larger plan to get “Back to Starbucks.” The company stated that it remains committed to investing in its hometown by “uplifting existing stores, opening new coffeehouses and strengthening community connections.” 

Another company post described how the chain is working to create more welcoming spaces. According to the post, over 1,000 stores will be redesigned by 2026 as part of the company’s plan to refocus on comfort, community and in-person connection.

While Starbucks leadership maintains that the closures are part of a broader effort to improve store environments and long-term performance, some employees still remain skeptical. 

Ryan DiCicco, a third-year computer science major at Seattle University and a Starbucks barista since 2021, said the news of layoffs and closures came as a surprise. He explained that the transfer process between stores has been unusually slow.

“I don’t know for sure if this is the reason why it’s been challenging trying to transfer stores, but the whole transfer process is normally easy. After over three months, I am still waiting for a response and have not been able to work since I moved,” DiCicco said.

DiCicco also stated that some baristas believe the company’s reasoning might go beyond what was outlined in the press release.

“They claim they’re closing stores where they can’t meet customer expectations or reach financial goals,” he said. “But there’s also been some speculation that this is in response to unionization efforts. For example, the two Starbucks Reserve locations in Seattle were both unionized and were closed with very little warning. These were some of the busiest locations in the city.”

Starbucks has faced criticism in the past for resisting unionization, including unionized workers accusing the company of retaliating against union stores with closures and stalling contract negotiations at local and national locations alike.

Hailey Ashley, a first-year forensic psychology major at Seattle U and a former Starbucks barista, said she also felt the effects of the company’s recent changes.

“I worked there for about five months, and we started hearing about the layoffs and closures back in December,” Ashley said. “We became extremely short-staffed but also way busier because there were fewer stores open nearby. It honestly sucked.”

Mehek Mehta, a barista at a Seattle drive-thru location for the past year, said she struggled with training for her role.

“I never got proper training for the stations, so I can’t always help when needed. I wish my managers would understand that I need more support,” Mehta said.

DiCicco also pointed to increased pressure to speed up drive-thru service and how it has impacted the quality of customer interactions.

“Partners are forced to cut corners in an effort to speed up service,” DiCicco said. “Customers receive a lesser-quality product that continues to rise in price, and the barista-customer interactions that usually set coffee shops apart from fast food suffer as a consequence.”

When asked for a comment, a Starbucks representative directed The Spectator to a letter from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol discussing store closures and Seattle’s significance as the company’s hometown. In the letter, Niccol said the company closed locations “where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance.”

As Starbucks rolls out its “Back to Starbucks” plan, some employees remain uncertain about what the changes really mean for them. For now, Seattle’s Starbucks employees are waiting, hoping the changes bring improvements without sacrificing the culture and connections that define the coffeehouse experience.