5 Seattle Starbucks Stores Among 16 Closing In US Over Safety Concerns

SEATTLE — Starbucks plans to permanently close 16 stores by the end of July, including five in Seattle and one in Everett, amid concerns over crime rates.

In Seattle, stores will close at the Westlake Center (400 Pine St.), in the Central District (2300 S. Jackson Street), Roosevelt (6417 Roosevelt Way NE), International District (505 5th Ave. S.), and Capitol Hill (1600 E. Olive Way), multiple media outlets reported.

Six more will reportedly be closed in the Los Angeles metro area, as well as two in Portland, Oregon, and one each in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., according to the Wall Street Journal.

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 — Union Station and Pike — recently unionized.

Starbucks Workers United in Seattle tweeted Monday afternoon questioning whether the company and its CEO Howard Schultz were bargaining in good faith.

"WE WILL NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS," the union tweeted.