Just as Pumpkin Spice lattes are really hitting their stride this Halloween season, Starbucks announced it is shuttering 250 locations.
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The coffee-slinging behemoth dropped the news in a statement late last month.
"We have carefully reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio and identified locations where we do not believe we can consistently deliver the experience we want for customers and partners or where we don't see a path to acceptable financial performance," Mike Grams, Starbucks' Chief Operating Officer, explained.
"Closing any coffeehouse is a difficult decision. We know today's news will be hard for the partners, customers, and communities affected," Grams added.
Starbucks didn't release a list of the store closings. However, 17 stores closed in New York alone, with 8 being in NYC proper, per The New York Post.
However, the coffee chain has a huge footprint across North America. 250 stores shuttering is next to northing for the chain, which Grams happily pointed out.
"This represents approximately 1% of our more than 18,000 North America coffeehouses," the exec boasted.
Statbucks is Currently Undergoing a Billion Dollar Makeover
While the closures might spell bad news for folks getting their daily cup of java at the chain, it comes with a bit of a silver, caffeinated lining. Starbucks is scooping out a billion bucks to makeover many of its locations, hoping for a cozier feel for regulars.
According to CNN, a prototype location that opened in San Antonio last month sported seats with fluffy cushions and a fancy espresso bar. It is also decidedly smaller.
"These particular new formats are really stretching us to be more adaptable to different types of locations, different shapes, and different sizes, but they still hold all of the aspects of the (coffee house) experience," senior vice president of global concepts and design at Starbucks, Dawn Clark, explained to CNN.
About 1,000 Starbucks locations have undergone the cozy facelift so far, with more planned. Meanwhile, the smaller-style locations, like the one in San Antonio, may lead to the plucky, pint-sized versions of the chain popping up more often, too.
"It's very symbiotic, and we're getting a lot of feedback that the kind of reenergizing of the coffee house is really positive for both sides," Clark added.
Meanwhile, the 250 locations recently closing pale in comparison to the planned new Starbucks locations opening in the near future. According to CNN, the chain expects to add as many as 5,000 new coffee spots in the coming years...
