Starbucks to Close More<br />Than 400 US Stores On Wednesday, Starbucks confirmed that<br />they would be permanently transitioning to<br />more socially-distant store models. The coffee giant plans to transition a<br />large number of stores to pick-up only<br />locations, specifically in major cities. In suburban areas, Starbucks<br />plans to rely more heavily on<br />drive-thrus, walk-up windows<br />and curbside pick-up options. Starbucks plans to shutter more than<br />400 company-owned locations in<br />the United States over the next <br />18 months to implement these changes. The store modifications were already<br />meant to take place in the next three to five years<br />but were accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson, <br />these changes will help provide a<br />“safe, familiar and convenient experience.” Kevin Johnson,<br />via statement
