Starbucks to close 6 LA stores over safety concerns and 'challenging incidents'

Starbucks is closing six locations in Los Angeles in the coming weeks due to the high frequency of “challenging incidents” in those stores. 

"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 Business Insider.

In a letter to Starbucks employees, senior executives Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson said the company prioritized “creating a safe, welcoming, and kind third place.”

The coffee chain’s Third Place Policy states that its stores need to be a “safe and welcoming public space.” Additionally, store employees are expected to address “disruptive behaviors” to ensure the welcoming spirit of the stores. 

“We want you to know that creating a safe, welcoming, and kind third place is our top priority. Because simply put, we cannot serve as partners if we don’t first feel safe at work. The question on our minds is: How do we continue to show up for our communities while protecting our partners?” the letter says. 

While the letter did not specify any that had happened at the locations that are closing, it implied that some employees have felt unsafe or are dissatisfied with their jobs due to incidents or confrontations they have had with customers.

“We read every incident report you file – it’s a lot,” the letter continues. 

Starbucks will close 16 stores in total, including locations in Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. The stores will close by the end of the month. 

The six Starbucks locations to close in Los Angeles include the stores located at: 

• 1st and Los Angeles 
• 2nd and San Pedro 
• Hollywood and Vine 
• Hollywood and Western 
• Ocean Front Walk 
• Santa Monica and Westmount. 

"That’s shocking, that’s really shocking, but I don’t blame them," said Varian Gray, who works in one of the stores that will close, about the closures. "People get stuff thrown at them, spit on them, anything, and so it’s not good."

The employees who work at the stores that will be closing will have the opportunity to transfer to another Starbucks.