STARBUCKS has abruptly closed one of its stores after seeing a series of disturbing crimes near the store.
The coffee chain announced that the location will temporarily close on May 5 to “protect the customer experience.”
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Customers were informed of the closure in Winnipeg, Canada via a note taped to the front of the store.
“We would like to thank you for being part of our store community; you are the heart of who we are at Starbucks,” the note read.
“We are so grateful to have played a role in your everyday life and for you to share these moments of your life with us.”
The temporary closure comes after a man assaulted another while waiting in line at a liquor store located in the same mall as Starbucks.
READ MORE ABOUT STORE CLOSURES
After the attack, liquor store employees called the police.
When police arrived, another altercation occurred, forcing the officer to shock one of the men, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.
The alleged attacker has been charged with assault by asphyxiation, suffocation or strangulation and has an outstanding warrant, authorities said.
Starbucks did not explicitly say it was closing its Osborne Village store due to the assault incident, but employees say otherwise.
“Starbucks routinely evaluates our portfolio of stores to determine how and where we can best meet the needs of our partners, customers and the communities we serve,” a Starbucks spokesperson told Global News.
“This includes reviewing the partner and customer experience to ensure partners are supported in serving customers in a warm and welcoming environment.”
The location has not announced when it will reopen.
Meanwhile, an employee at the Osborne Village Starbucks store told Zohreh Gervais, executive director of the Osborne Village BIZ, that the closure was primarily due to safety concerns.
Gervais told Global News that while she was surprised, she was not surprised the store was closing due to safety concerns.
“They are not equipped and should not have to deal with these incredibly violent issues that seem to be on the rise in the Village lately,” Gervais said. complete blood count.
CRIME WAVE
The River-Osborne area where the mall is located saw a 44.6% increase in overall crime from 2022 to 2023, according to Winnipeg Police Service Data.
In 2024, Winnipeg Police reported that about 27% of calls so far in the River-Osborne area were related to disturbances or danger.
And 26% of calls were for wellness checks.
Last April, a man was attacked at a Burger King down the road, leaving him seriously injured.
The attack took place in broad daylight, at 10 am, by a person the victim knew, complete blood count reported.
Restaurant Closings in 2024
BOSSes of major restaurant chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The US Sun compiled a list of those affected by the network.
- Biscuit Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina and Sacramento, California, closed.
- Mod Pizza: Bosses drastically closed 27 stores, including in the state of California.
- Frisch’s Big Boy: Restaurant bosses have confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky.
- Two dolars: Four restaurants in Ohio are set to close.
- Pepper: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has closed permanently.
- Friendly: Bosses have confirmed that an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, will close.
- Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March.
- Danny: Two restaurants in Boise and Nampa, Idaho, have closed.
- Carl’s Jr.: The first location in Boise, Idaho, has closed.
Gervais cites that drug addiction, mental health problems and a lack of housing in the region have led to an increase in crime.
“These security issues, these security issues, are too big for one company to solve,” she said.
Gervaise says Osborne Village has increased police patrols and introduced safety walks from the Know Peace Walkersa group dedicated to bringing trauma-informed support and safety.
Despite Osborne Village’s efforts, business owners are taking safety issues into their own hands.
Dustin Marks, co-owner of Saikel Indoor Cycle Studio located in Osborne Village, said his business has increased safety protocols since crime began to rise in 2020.
“We have locked-door policies, that kind of thing, when there’s no support around,” Marks told Global News.
“(But) we don’t usually open after dark, which is good. Much of our programming is during the day.
Marks said crime in the area is unfortunate, but it’s the price a business pays when operating in a city.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
