Starbucks to Shut 250 North American Stores Amid Turnaround Effort

Starbucks announced the closure of 250 underperforming coffeehouses in North America, a move that will add roughly $300 million in restructuring charges and represent about 1 percent of its 18,000 U. S. and Canadian outlets. The company plans to complete most of the closures by the end of fiscal 2026. In the same filing, Starbucks lowered its 2026 global net‑new store target to 440 openings, down from an earlier 600‑650 range, as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” strategy. Niccol, who took the helm in September, has already overseen four straight quarters of comparable sales growth and is trimming corporate roles and regional offices to improve margins. The closures follow a $1 billion restructuring last year that included the shuttering of the iconic Seattle roastery.