2 Portland Stores Among 16 Closing In US Over Safety Concerns

PORTLAND, OR — Starbucks plans to permanently close 16 stores by the end of July, including two in Portland, amid concerns over safety.

A spokesman for Starbucks told KPTV the Portland stores are at SW 4th and Morrison and, a Gateway location on NE Halsey Street.

Along with the Portland closings, six stores will close in both Seattle and the Los Angeles metro area. Two will close in Portland, Oregon, and one will shutter in both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., the Wall Street Journal reported.

Starbucks told The Seattle Times on Monday that the decisions to close the stores were based on the number of crime complaints lodged at each store, as well as whether how successful they were at lowering those rates. Crime complaints include drug use, stealing and attacks.

Going forward, store managers can choose to close bathrooms to the public, according to the Times. Future stores will also be redesigned to boost safety.

On Monday, Howard Schultz said in a message posted to the company's website that it's focused on safety, welcoming and kindness at its stores.

"In a world that is increasingly isolating and often divided, we can operate in a way that knits together the fabric of our neighborhoods," he said. "We can expect to protect each other, respect and include each other, and work together to create the kind of safe and welcoming environment we need at work."

In a letter to Starbucks partners posted to the company's website, Starbucks leaders said employees are seeing "firsthand the challenges facing our communities – personal safety, racism, lack of access to healthcare, a growing mental health crisis, rising drug use, and more."

"With stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too. We read every incident report you file – it’s a lot," senior vice presidents of U.S. operations Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson said in the letter.

"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 company said it will conduct "robust safety trainings for all partners," including on de-escalating situations and preparing for active shooter crises, as well as providing, mental health first aid training. The company also plans to design "safe and welcoming stores," and, when necessary, change store hours, staffing and furniture layouts. It will also consider closing restrooms or entire stores permanently where it can't keep workers and customers safe.

The news comes after two of the five Seattle locations recently unionized.