Your usual morning stop is locked. The chairs are still up. A paper notice is taped inside the glass. Starting the week of Sept. 24, 2026, Starbucks closed approximately 250 North American locations, with at least 17 confirmed in New York. The company did not publish a complete public list, which means confirming whether a specific café is closed falls on the customer — not on a corporate announcement.
Which New York Locations Are Closing
Starbucks provided a rationale but not a full roster — here’s what third-party reporting has confirmed so far.
COO Mike Grams said in a message to employees that affected stores either missed financial targets or could not deliver the experience the company expects for customers and employees, according to The New York Times. What Starbucks did not provide was a single, comprehensive closure list. Subsequent reporting from lohud.com identified these reportedly affected New York locations:
- 99 Wall St., 125 Chambers St., and 15 Carlisle St. in New York City (eight NYC locations reportedly among the closures)
- 726 North Ave., New Rochelle; 2458 Central Park Ave., Yonkers
- 1703 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst; Twelve Corners location, Brighton; South Main St., Fairport
This list comes from third-party reporting, not an official Starbucks release. Verify before you travel.
What This Means for Workers and Neighborhoods
Employees at affected stores were offered transfer opportunities — though placement was not guaranteed for everyone.
Workers at closing locations were offered transfers to other stores where possible, with severance support available if placement could not be arranged, according to reporting by Yahoo Finance. That is a corporate safety net, but relocation is rarely seamless for someone whose schedule is built around a specific neighborhood — much like the treats that disappeared from a beloved local spot.
“The affected coffeehouses either failed to meet financial expectations or could not provide the experience Starbucks wants for customers and employees.” — COO Mike Grams, as summarized by The New York Times.
CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” turnaround positions these closures as deliberate pruning rather than distress. The 250 shuttered stores represent roughly 1% of the company’s approximately 18,000 North American locations — a figure that underscores just how deeply embedded Starbucks remains in the daily rhythms of most cities, even as favorite chains face shifting consumer sentiment. Starbucks expects around $300 million in restructuring charges tied to the effort, covering lease exits, employee benefits, and related costs.
How to Check If Your Store Is Still Open
Two minutes with the app or store locator can save a wasted commute.
Starbucks advised customers to:
- Look for posted closure notices at their café
- Use the store locator at starbucks.com
- Check the mobile app
Third-party reports are still catching up — a location not yet named publicly may still be affected. Reliability concerns are not unique to Starbucks; 7-Eleven and Circle K have faced their own scrutiny from inspectors. Check the app before you go. Your commute will thank you.
