Coffee enthusiasts in Ottawa were taken aback and disheartened by the abrupt closure of nine Starbucks branches throughout the city as part of a larger restructuring initiative within the chain across North America.
Expressing her dismay, Jess Rose mentioned feeling “devastated” alongside her husband due to the shuttering of their preferred spot on 1050 Bank St., describing it as a heart-wrenching experience. She emphasized the impact on the employees, noting reports indicating they were given only a 48-hour notice before losing their jobs.
The specific location in Old Ottawa South, operational for about a year and situated in a newly constructed building owned by Preeminent Developments, held sentimental value for Rose and the community due to its early opening hours, which set it apart from other nearby cafes.
The closure left regular patrons like Gaby Garcia disappointed, as she and the children she cares for would often visit the café before heading to the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library across the street. Garcia expressed a sense of loss, wondering what alternatives they would now have.
Hoping for a Tim Hortons to take the place of the Starbucks in the building, Garcia reflected on the impact of the closure, echoing the sentiments of many loyal customers who cherished the establishment as a part of their daily routine.
In response to the closures, Starbucks cited underperforming locations as the reason behind the move, aiming to address declining U.S. sales over six consecutive quarters. CEO Brian Niccol explained that the decision to close certain stores was based on the inability to meet customer and financial expectations.
With one percent of all Starbucks outlets in North America affected by the restructuring, the global chain plans to conclude the fiscal year with 18,300 stores across the region. The chain’s financial challenges were attributed to factors such as rising living costs and increased raw material expenses caused by US tariffs on coffee-producing nations and a shortage of coffee beans.
The nine Starbucks stores in Ottawa that have ceased operations range from Gateway Plaza in Kanata to Trinity Crossing Mall in Orléans, including locations at Bank & Aylmer in Old Ottawa South, St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Bank & McLeod in Centretown, and others.
