Local Caribou Coffee Closure Part of Company's Larger Movement

Tagged as an "underperforming store", a Clark Street Caribou Coffee will soon be shuttered for good.

Employees at the shop, 2453 N. Clark St., just learned of the April 14 closing on Friday, they said.

"It's all been very sudden," said one barista, who declined to give her name. 

The closure is part of a larger movement for the company—80 of the nation's struggling stores will close along with the Clark Street one and 88 others will be converted to Peet's Coffee & Tea locations, according to company representatives. 

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That conversion will take anywhere from a year to 18 months, said a Caribou spokeswoman on Monday. The store at North Clark Street and West Wellington Avenue is among those becoming a Peet's. Meanwhile, it will remain open as a Caribou, employees said.

"Going forward, Caribou Coffee will be made up of 468 locations across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Western Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Denver, and ten international markets," Caribou representatives said in a written statement. 

The Minnesota-based chain currently has 18 stores in Chicago, most of which are likely to close permanently under the reorganization, employees said. There are 66 Illinois stores, overall. 

The only Peet’s locations in the area are in Lincoln Park at 1000 W. North Ave., and in Evanston.

Representatives thanked dedicated Caribou fans Monday for their support over the years.

"While the decisions we’ve made have been difficult for our team in Minneapolis, as well as our team members across the country and our guests and fans everywhere, we are working to make this transition as seamless as possible for the Caribou community," they said.

The closures take effect Sunday, April 14 at noon.