In a troubled economy, Starbucks is intending to close nearly six hundred stores in the United States. This company plan became more of a reality when, on July 17th, Starbucks provided a list of the U.S. store closure locations:

link: Starbucks Store Closure - press release

Some states will see a drastic discontinuation in their communities. For example, Mississippi will have over forty percent of the state’s Starbucks locations closed. In a curious reversal, there are online petitions and community rallies to “Save Our Starbucks”. Previously, Starbucks had faced protests in communities where there was opposition to the coffee conglomerate opening stores. Among the concerns was that Starbucks would dominate the small coffee outlets and communities would lose its own unique identity.

Now there are movements to keep these Starbucks locations open. Local business anticipate that having a Starbucks store close would have a negative financial impact. There would be less people traffic to these areas and that would translate into a decline in revenue. Communities are recognizing that Starbucks adds to the commercial value of a property. It also means that there are local jobs being lost.

Starbucks is caught in a tenuous position. The company must act to protect its corporate revenue. The economy is straining people’s budgets. However, customers of the brand are appealing to Starbucks to reconsider. If these community rallies grow in number, Starbucks must recognize the potential possibility of a public relations nightmare.

Catherine Forsythe