Victoria’s first Starbucks location, a fixture at the corner of Blanshard and Fort streets since the early 1990s, will close its doors this week after more than three decades in business.
The store, once a hub for morning commuters and students, was the first introduction many Victorians had to the Seattle-based coffee giant.
The decision comes as Starbucks undergoes a significant downsizing across North America and Europe. The company announced this week it will be closing hundreds of under-performing stores and laying off around 900 nonretail employees.
The Blanshard and Fort location is among 124 stores across Canada and the US that will be shut down. Starbucks has already closed several downtown Victoria locations in recent years, including on Government Street, inside the Bay Centre, and a franchised store on Belleville Street.
Meanwhile, two new franchise outlets have opened nearby on Humboldt and Douglas streets and on Wharf Street at Courtney Street.
In addition, Starbucks counters inside Save-On-Foods grocery stores are being phased out, including locations in Sidney and at Tillicum Mall.
A letter posted on the Fort Street store’s door thanked customers for their loyalty:
“We know this may be hard to hear—because this isn’t just any store. It’s your coffeehouse, a place woven into your daily rhythm, where memories were made, and where meaningful connections with our partners grew over the years.”
The company said employees affected by the closure will be offered transfers to nearby stores where possible or provided severance packages.
Starbucks currently operates about 18,734 locations across North America. It expects to finish its fiscal year with around 18,300 after accounting for closures and new openings.
In a letter to employees, CEO Brian Niccol said the closures are part of a “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan meant to focus resources on stores that can offer a better customer experience and stronger financial performance.
“Closing any location is difficult,” Niccol wrote.
“Our coffeehouses are centres of the community, and these steps are necessary to build a better, stronger, and more resilient Starbucks.”
Starbucks also announced it will be investing in uplifting more than 1,000 existing stores with warmer designs and more staff hours, while planning for future growth.
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