STARBUCKS to Shed 18 Cafés in Chicago Area - Including Two in Minority Areas!
CHICAGO WEST, SOUTH SIDE STORES AT ROOSEVELT & HOMAN, 95TH & STONY ISLAND SLATED TO CLOSE!
It's been several years since Urban Coffee Opportunities, a venture between basketball great Magic Johnson's urban development firm and Starbucks, began to bring the prestigious coffee café's moniker to minority areas across the country.
Now, several of these urban locations, including two in the South and West Sides of Chicago, will close by Spring, 2009.
Starbucks, in a public statement, cited several criteria to identify stores to close, including current and projected profitability. It also said "consideration was given to the impact of the current and anticipated economic trends."
In all, Starbucks plans to close 18 stores in the Chicago area, and a total of 25 outlets throughout Illinois. Other Chicago-area stores planned for closure include locations in suburban Country Club Hills and Elmhurst.
Nationally, Starbucks Coffee will close a total of 600 stores by next Spring, resulting in 12,000 retail jobs lost. Specific closing dates have not been disclosed.
See coverage in yesterday's Chicago Tribune, in a story by Barbara Rose and Wailin Wong, for more information.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
