Starbucks abruptly closes location featured on hit show and loved by celebrities – but leaves no explanation for customers

A STARBUCKS store served its last cup of coffee as it quickly closed its doors over the weekend.

The Astor Place store in New York City has been a staple coffee shop in midtown Manhattan for nearly 30 years, having served locals, celebrities, and fictional characters in Sex in the City: The Movie.

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The location was the 11th Starbucks store to open in the Big Apple, having opened on March 30, 1995, according to hyperlocal blog EV Mourning.

The store’s management told the blog that the main reason for the closure was the increase in rent.

“The landlords raised the rent so astronomically that even corporate Starbucks couldn’t pay it,” the store manager was quoted as saying.

A barista reportedly confirmed the reason for the closure to a customer who spoke to the New York Post Office.

“Are you serious? How high can the rent get to the point where it’s not even sustainable for a Starbucks to stay open here?” the customer told the outlet.

However, a representative of the company that owns the space – ASG Equities – disputed the claim.

The company told the New York Post that rising rents were “simply not” behind the closure.

“We are saddened that they chose to leave, even though we offered a lease extension that would have allowed them to remain in the existing space for exactly the same rent,” the spokesperson told the outlet.

A Starbucks spokesperson told EV Grieve that the store closed permanently on Monday.

“As a normal business routine, we continually evaluate our portfolio of stores, using a variety of criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers,” the spokesperson said.

“We did not take the decision to close stores lightly. Our relationships with our guests are deeply personal and we are honored to be at Astor Place.”

All employees were reportedly offered relocation to other local Starbucks stores.

Starting Monday, the longtime local has already been removed from the Starbucks location map on its official website.

The Starbucks store was a favorite of New York residents and celebrities, Including actors like Matt Damon.

Some regulars told the New York Post they were sad to see the place close its doors.

“I’m actually a little sad because I’ve had coffee here so many times, I’ve had so many great conversations here, and I’ve even had a few bad Tinder dates here,” said customer Katia Jimenez.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve bought coffee here 50 times over the years,” Diana Heckman told the outlet.

“I’ve spent many winter Sundays here on my laptop because, as Starbucks says, it’s a particularly spacious and cozy place. So yeah, I’m going to cry over Starbucks.”

It was not immediately clear what will replace the iconic Starbucks location.

However, ASG Equities told the New York Post that the space will be “of interest to a wide range of community-oriented retailers” due to its high foot traffic.

OTHER CLOSINGS

The store’s closure comes just weeks after Starbucks announced it would close the doors of another popular New York City location in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood.

The store, which was a union location, closed on June 30th.

“While the terms and locations of partner transfers, or compensation for those who do not choose to transfer, are subject to a negotiated agreement with Workers United, Starbucks is committed to ensuring that all partners in these locations are supported through this transition.” , a spokesperson said Green Indicators at the time.