STARBUCKS fans in one state are uniting in an attempt to stop the closure of a longtime venue that will close its doors next month.
Earlier this month, the coffee chain announced it would close a store in the Alki neighborhood in West Seattle, Washington.
Starbucks confirmed West Seattle Blog that the store, located at 2742 Alki Avenue, would close on August 11th.
All current store employees are expected to have the opportunity to transfer to nearby locations.
The location has been open since 1999 and its closure will leave just five other stores open in West Seattle, according to the West Seattle Blog.
The closure comes approximately 16 years after the last location closed in the region.
Read more about store closures
Local customers are in an uproar over the store’s closure, with hundreds coming together to launch a petition to keep it open.
The petition, titled Save Our Alki Beach Starbucks!, outlines four main reasons why customers want the store to remain:
- Supporting the community
- Boosting the local economy
- Convenient location
- Impact on employees
“Alki Beach Starbucks is more than just a coffee shop; it is a central gathering place for our community,” the petition says.
“It provides a space for friends to meet, families to connect and neighbors to gather.
“Alki Starbucks significantly boosts the local economy, attracting visitors and supporting nearby businesses,” he continues.
“Its closure will create a void felt by many, especially remote workers who use it as a hub to take a break from their home offices.”
The petition also states that by closing the store, Starbucks is reducing Alki’s ability to move around and causing inconvenience to store employees.
“We understand that Starbucks needs to make strategic decisions about its store portfolio, but we believe that the Alki Beach location is vital to our community,” the document says.
“We urge Starbucks to reconsider this closure and explore other options such as renovation or relocation in the Alki Beach area.
“Let’s send a message that this place is important to our community.”
Starbucks Locations Closing in 2024
Permanent Closures
- 630 K St. in Sacramento, California
- 2742 Alki Avenue in Seattle, Washington
- Location of the Capitol Building on L Street in Sacramento, California
- Warren Street in Trenton, New Jersey
- 315 Ellsworth Drive in Silver Springs, Maryland
Temporary closures
- 995 Main Street, Newington, Connecticut
- 538 Boston Post Road, Orange, Connecticut
- 1030 Barnum Avenue, Stratford, Connecticut
- 1090 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, Connecticut
So far, Starbucks has stuck to its decision to close the store.
In its statement to West Seattle Blog, the company said it routinely evaluates its portfolio of stores to see how it can better serve its customers.
This may result in new location openings, renovations, relocations or closures.
When it comes to the Alki location, Starbucks said the decision to close came “after careful consideration.”
As of Saturday, the petition to keep the Starbucks store open had more than 550 signatures.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story