As pumpkin spice season hits its peak, Baltimore's Starbucks enthusiasts are facing store closures across the city, with six locations bracing to serve their final cups. According to a report by FOX Baltimore, these stores span neighborhoods from Federal Hill to Canton, and have been scheduled to shut their doors after Saturday.
The closures come in the wake of Starbucks' broader strategy to shutter hundreds of stores across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The company's chief executive officer, Brian Niccol, who assumed the position in September 2024, stated back on Thursday that some cafes were "unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don't see a path to financial performance." This information was originally shared in a statement acquired by CBS News Baltimore. Niccol's leadership has previously been marked by a successful tenure at Chipotle, where he substantially increased profit and stock performance.
In line with these closures, Starbucks has also detailed plans to eliminate about 900 non-retail positions, though further information on impacted roles and regions remains limited. Severance and support packages are said to be offered to those affected, as per Niccol's comments, ensuring benefits extensions among other forms of assistance. The exact locations closing down in Baltimore can be found on Starbucks' website, with hours set as closed past this weekend, including popular spots in Belvedere and Inner Harbor.
