Frank Sumrall is the lead editor for MyNorthwest originally from the North Bay in California.
The employees affected, all baristas and shift supervisors, worked at stores on First Hill, in the University District, in the Seattle Center Armory, in Seattle Children’s Hospital, and at the Starbucks in the Metropolitan Park East building downtown.
“These choices are never easy — especially here at home — but they’re an important part of focusing on what we do best and delivering on our Back to Starbucks strategy,” Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson toldthat the store’s union status was not a factor in its shutdown. Starbucks Workers United has yet to comment. The First Hill location closed on Sunday, while the Seattle Children’s Hospital store closes this Friday. The other three coffee shops will close on April 5. Hundreds of Starbucks stores nationwide closed last year, including more than 30 in Washington, resulting in layoffs affecting 369 employees.After a tumultuous 2025, Starbucks plans to expand by opening hundreds of new stores, the company announced in January. Leaders within Starbucks expect to open as many as 650 locations worldwide this year, including 128 in the first quarter. The recent changes within Starbucks’ strategy began when Brian Niccol became CEO in August 2024. Since he left Chipotle to lead Starbucks, the coffee giant has been reworking its operations. Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan invests $ 1 billion in training, upgrades, and more efficient stores. “Q4 was a milestone quarter in getting ‘Back to Starbucks,'” Cathy Smith, chief financial officer, stated. “We know this continues to be a multi-year turnaround. We remain focused on driving our topline while managing the costs that are within our control to deliver durable, sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value.” Starbucks reported that during its 13-week fiscal first quarter, which ended December 28, 2025, sales at comparable North America and U.S. stores increased by 4%. After revealing its first-quarter results, Niccol shared that the company’s turnaround is taking hold. “We’ve got more work to do, but our return to global comp growth and the momentum we’re building give me confidence we’re on the right path to deliver the very best of Starbucks for our customers and shareholders,” Niccol said.WA millionaires’ tax faces new lawsuit threat as Governor Ferguson signs bill Washington’s proposed millionaires' tax is heading toward a legal showdown after Governor Bob Ferguson signed the controversial income tax measure.Gas prices in Washington have climbed nearly $1 in the past month and are threatening to break all-time records for unleaded gasoline.According to King County prosecutors, holding parents criminally accountable when their children commit gun crimes is extremely difficult under current Washington state lawThe robbery happened Sunday at approximately 1 p.m. at a tent encampment inside Rotary Viewpoint Park, near 35th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street.Swiss food giant Nestlé says about 12 tons, or 413,793 candy bars, of its KitKat chocolate brand were stolen after leaving its production site in Italy.WSECU Community Champion: Chrystal Ortega’s mission to feed Spokane Chrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise.Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season.Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town."
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