Canadian Business News
Markets · Economy · Finance · Real Estate
Market Watch
As of 2:35 PM EDT
TSX35,800.89▲ 0.26%
S&P 5007,743.41▲ 0.51%
DOW51,828.62▲ 0.93%
NASDAQ27,068.72▲ 0.48%
CAD/USD0.7072▼ 0.03%
WTI CRUDE92.41▼ 2.33%
GOLD4,321.20▲ 0.54%
BoC RATE2.25%▼ 0.25 pts

Starbucks to Close Eight B.C. Locations as Part of North America-Wide Overhaul

Starbucks Canada has confirmed the closure of eight British Columbia coffeehouses as part of a broader restructuring effort spanning North America. The company told Global News it has gathered insight into which locations are positioned for long-term success and identified others where continued growth is not viable.

The closures were announced Thursday as part of a plan to shut down 250 stores across North America. In British Columbia, the confirmed closures include locations at 125 Davie Street, Vancouver; 891-885 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver; 960 Seymour Street, Vancouver; 2201 Holdom Avenue, Burnaby; Colwood Corner at 1911 Sooke Road, Victoria; Spall Plaza at 1950 Harvey Avenue in Kelowna; 9143 Main Street, Osoyoos; and 3623 DeWolf Way, Merritt.

Most of these stores are expected to close by Saturday, September 26. Starbucks has invited community members to report any additional B.C. closures they become aware of, and signs are set to be posted at the affected stores this weekend to notify customers ahead of the shutdown.

Part of a Wider Redesign Strategy

The closures are tied to Starbucks’ ongoing push to reshape its coffeehouses into spaces that encourage customers to linger. The company operates more than 18,000 company-run and licensed locations across North America, and has reported 60 net store openings so far in the current fiscal year’s third quarter.

Alongside the closures, Starbucks is moving ahead with an accelerated renovation plan that aims to refurbish at least 1,500 locations by the end of fiscal 2026. Planned upgrades include new artwork and greenery, revised seating layouts, the return of ceramic cups and glassware for customers dining in, reinstated condiment bars, and wider availability of power outlets.

Photo by Ümit Tektaş on Pexels

Closures Represent a Small Share of Locations

Starbucks said the stores affected by this round of closures make up roughly 1% of its total location count. The company described the shuttered coffeehouses as places where customer experience or long-term performance prospects fell short of its standards.

The move comes as Starbucks continues to balance store closures with new openings and renovations, framing the changes as part of an effort to refine its overall retail footprint rather than a broad-based retreat from the market.


This article references reporting from:

Avatar photo
Timothy Campbell writes about business in Canada — the deals, the disruptions, and the people making them happen. He's covered everything from scrappy Toronto startups to the entrenched giants of energy and finance, always looking for the story behind the numbers. Outside of writing, he spends time helping early founders figure out how to talk about what they're building.