Starbucks, the famous coffee chain, is closing at least two Tampa Bay stores. This is part of hundreds of store closures across the country. The stores closing are at 4946 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, and 5006 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Starbucks’ online store locator shows these stores will close after Saturday, and workers confirmed it will be their last day. For updates, visit the official Starbucks site or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Where the Stores Are
Neither store has a drive-thru, which is now very important for Starbucks. The St. Petersburg store is in a strip center owned by Cathy Lee and Christy Brinkley Investments LLC. It is next to a spa, nail salon, and H&R Block. The East Fowler store in Tampa is at the end of a strip center owned by DJ-9 INC, next to five other shops. These are prime locations in Tampa Bay that will now be empty.
Why Starbucks Is Closing Stores
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said the company will close hundreds of stores, about 1% of all North American locations. At the end of June 2025, Starbucks had 18,734 locations in North America. By the end of September, this number will go down to 18,300. About 900 non-retail employees will lose their jobs, and many open positions will not be filled. Starbucks is focusing on modernizing its stores and keeping the ones that do the best business.
How This Affects the Community
It is not clear how many jobs will be affected in Tampa Bay. These closures will change the local coffee scene and leave a gap where popular Starbucks stores used to be. The company’s plan shows that it wants to make its stores more efficient while still giving customers great coffee experiences.
Looking Ahead
Tampa Bay residents will soon see what new stores or businesses might take over these prime spots. Starbucks is changing, but its coffee and presence in the community will be missed.
Want to know what will replace Tampa Bay’s closing Starbucks? Stay tuned as new businesses move in!
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