Coffee enthusiasts in Ottawa were taken aback on Monday by the abrupt closure of nine Starbucks locations throughout the city, a move that is part of the chain’s broader restructuring efforts across North America. Jess Rose expressed her devastation over the shutdown of her favorite café at 1050 Bank St., labeling the news as “heartbreaking.” She emphasized that her sorrow was more about the dedicated staff than the corporation itself, as employees reported receiving only 48 hours’ notice prior to losing their jobs. The outlet nestled in Old Ottawa South had been operational for just about a year within a newly developed building owned by Preeminent Developments.
Although nearby cafés exist, Rose highlighted that her local Starbucks held a unique charm, particularly because of its early opening hours. “Unfortunately, many local coffee shops we cherish don’t open early enough for the regular crowd,” she shared.
Gaby Garcia also faced disappointment when she found the doors closed and the signage removed. She reminisced about enjoying visits at the café with the children she cares for before heading to the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library nearby. “It’s quite sad,” Garcia remarked. She expressed hopes that a Tim Hortons might occupy the vacant space on the building’s ground floor.
A message in the window directed to “our amazing customers” described the closure as “an incredibly difficult decision.” It acknowledged the emotional weight of the closure: “We know this may be hard to hear — because this isn’t just any store; it’s your coffeehouse, an integral part of your daily routine, where cherished memories were created, and meaningful relationships with our partners flourished over the years.”
Starbucks had announced the closures of underperforming stores on Thursday, citing a restructuring process triggered by six consecutive quarters of declining sales in the United States. CEO Brian Niccol stated, “During our review, we pinpointed coffeehouses where we couldn’t provide the expected physical environment for our customers and partners, or where financial performance seemed unattainable, leading to these closures.”
As part of this restructuring, it is projected that one percent of all Starbucks locations in North America will shut down. The global coffee giant is expected to conclude the fiscal year with approximately 18,300 stores across the continent. Dana Hyde, executive in residence at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, pointed out that Starbucks’ sales have suffered largely due to the rising cost of living. “Inflation has dampened demand for pricier specialty coffees — customers are opting for Tim Hortons, which is further impacting Starbucks’ sales,” she explained in an email. She added that U.S. tariffs on primary coffee-producing nations, along with a shortage of beans, have further escalated the company’s raw material costs.
The nine Starbucks locations that have closed span from Gateway Plaza in Kanata to Trinity Crossing Mall in Orléans. The affected locations include:
- Bank & Aylmer in Old Ottawa South (1050 Bank St.)
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre (1200 St. Laurent Blvd.)
- Bank & McLeod in Centretown (455 Bank St.)
- Trinity Crossing Mall in Orléans (4240 Innes Rd.)
- Elmvale Acres (1910 St. Laurent Blvd.)
- Tunney’s Pasture (1620 Scott St.)
- W. Hunt Club (330 W. Hunt Club Rd.)
- W. Hunt Club Petro Canada (690 W. Hunt Club Rd.)
- Gateway Plaza in Kanata (4055 Carling Ave.)
