Steamed Out
If you've ever picked up a lukewarm flat white in a Starbucks that felt more like a hallway than a café, you probably won't be shocked by this news. The company is shutting down dozens of its mobile-order-only stores.
Here is the scoop.
400tmax/istockphoto
If you've ever picked up a lukewarm flat white in a Starbucks that felt more like a hallway than a café, you probably won't be shocked by this news. The company is shutting down dozens of its mobile-order-only stores.
Here is the scoop.
The coffee giant is walking away from a format it once bet big on: the mobile-order-only store, dubbed “Starbucks Pick Up.” Around 80 to 90 of these stripped-down locations — places with no seats, no counter, and barely a presence — are being shut down through 2026.
They weren’t failing, but they weren’t working either, meaning that people used them, but they didn’t care about them. These shops didn’t offer a reason to return beyond convenience. And in a brand built around routine and atmosphere, that matters.
“We found this format to be overly transactional and lacking the warmth and human connection that defines our brand,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said on a company earnings call.
According to USA Today, the closures span more than 20 states and include city centers, college campuses, and high-traffic commuter areas. Some were tucked into office towers or transit stations, others operated quietly inside retail complexes.
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