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“As a standard course of business, we regularly review how our coffeehouses serve their neighborhoods and if they are meeting customers where they are. Sometimes that means investing in updates or trying new formats.
Other times, it means making the difficult decision to close a location that no longer fits how people in that community live, work, or gather,” A Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement to KIRO Newsradio. “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.”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.Starbucks reported strong fiscal first quarter as holiday drinks and a viral bear cup helped drive sales. Same-store sales – or sales at locations open at least a year – rose 4% for the October-December period. That was higher than the 2.3% that Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet. Same-store sales in the U.S. were also up 4%, with a 3% increase in transactions and a 1% increase in spending per visit. That was the best U.S. performance for the company in two years.Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the results were evidence that the company’s turnaround plan is taking hold. Over the last year, Starbucks has been adding staff and equipment to stores to ensure faster and friendlier service and better sequence its mobile orders. Starbucks is also adding seating and updating stores to make them cozier and more welcoming. Niccol said around 200 stores have been redecorated so far and more than 1,000 will get that treatment by this fall. “We have a plan, we are working the plan, and the plan is working,” Niccol said W during a conference call with investors in January. “The shine is back on our brand, both in the U.S. and around the world.” Niccol warned that the turnaround may not be linear. But the company does expect to turn around lagging sales this year. Starbucks said it expects global same-store sales and revenue to grow 3% or more in its 2026 fiscal year. Starbucks’ global same-store sales fell 1% in its previous fiscal year. Niccol said Starbucks delivered record revenue during its holiday launch week. One “Lucky Strike extra,” Niccol said, was the $29.95 glass Bearista cups, which sold out almost immediately after they were introduced. At one point in January, an authentic Bearista cup was selling for $119.99 on eBay., which is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink. The strike closed some stores, but only briefly.in North America in September. The company said it was closing the stores to focus its resources on better performers.with Chinese investment firm Boyu Capital to operate Starbucks stores in China. Under the agreement, Boyu will acquire a 60% interest in Starbucks’ retail operations in China, which is valued at $4 billion. Starbucks will retain a 40% interest in the joint venture and will own and license the Starbucks brand. Revenue rose 6% to $9.9 billion for the quarter, also beating Wall Street expectations for $9.65 billion. Starbucks said its margins have been pressured by investments in labor as well as tariffs on coffee. But some of those costs should abate as this year progresses, Chief Financial Officer Cathy Smith said. In November, PresidentAdjusted for one-time items, Starbucks earned 56 cents per share in the quarter. That was lower than the 59-cent profit Wall Street was expecting.Starbucks will soon close five Seattle stores, a company spokesperson confirmed Monday. These locations will close in early April. 1730 Minor Ave. 305 Harrison Street 4800 Sand Point Way NE 1101 Madison Street 4147 University Way NE “As a standard course of business, we regularly review how our coffeehouses serve their neighborhoods and The Seattle City Council held its inaugural media huddle Monday, an opportunity for news reporters to meet with Councilmembers to ask questions about any topic.Seven pitbull puppies, believed to be 2 days old, were found abandoned on the side of the road in Tumwater on Monday morning.Footage was released of a suspect throwing his bicycle at a deputy during an attempt to flee on foot last week in Snohomish County.‘Extremely troubling’: Seattle man sentenced for possession of 1.5K images, 180 videos of child sexual abuse A registered sex offender in Seattle was sentenced to three years in prison and 15 years supervised release Monday for possessing child sexual abuse material.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."Discover Kitsap County’s creative soul: Where Nordic charm meets gothic gardens and ancient traditions thrive Kitsap County is full of wonderfully weird, authentically artsy, and unexpectedly magical corners that make visitors become locals and locals never want to leave.
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