Center City Starbucks Closing, Leadership Cites Safety Issues: Reports

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Starbucks has announced 16 location closings - including one Philadelphia store - due to safety concerns, according to multiple media reports and letters posted by corporate leadership.

The Starbucks on 10th and Chestnut Street, set to close by the end of July, is part of a string of stores across the country facing racism and drug use in recent months, according to The Wall Street Journal. Other store closures include locations in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

"After careful consideration, we are closing some stores in locations that have experienced a high volume of challenging incidents that make it unsafe to continue to operate, to open new locations with safer conditions," a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.

Starbucks senior vice presidents of U.S. operations Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson acknowledged increasing incident reports filed due to unsafe conditions in a letter posted to the company website on Monday.

“You’re … seeing firsthand the challenges facing our communities – personal safety, racism, lack of access to healthcare, a growing mental health crisis, rising drug use, and more,” the letter reads. “With stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too. We read every incident report you file – it’s a lot.”

The letter also advocates for “policies, programs and benefits” to assist customers moving forward, including employee active shooter and mental health first-aid trainings, closing public restrooms when necessary and the implementation of restroom occupancy sensors and alarm systems in some stores.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz also penned a letter on Monday, pointing to the company’s “need to reinvent Starbucks for the future” and goal to implement “safety, welcoming and kindness for our stores.”

“In a world that is increasingly isolating and often divided, we can operate in a way that knits together the fabric of our neighborhoods. We can expect to protect each other, respect and include each other, and work together to create the kind of safe and welcoming environment we need at work,” Schultz wrote.

City officials are hoping Starbucks will reconsider the move, according to 6abc.

“Starbucks, don't you dare give up on the city of Philadelphia. We are working together, making the public health of our city our number one priority. We want you here and we need you here," said Councilmember Cherelle Parker, according to the outlet.