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Starbucks files notice to close a Philadelphia site in December

Starbucks files notice to close a Philadelphia site in December

Money Moves Philadelphia, PA local

WARN notice lists 18 employees at the site; closure set for December 6

2 days ago: State posts Starbucks WARN notice

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Starbucks told Pennsylvania it will close a Philadelphia site on December 6, 2026, naming 18 employees on a layoff notice the state posted October 7. The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires 60 days' warning before a mass layoff or closing, so the filing is a statement of intent, not a report that the jobs have ended.

The notice doesn't say which location or why it's closing. In July 2022, Starbucks closed 16 U.S. stores over safety concerns, including one at 10th and Chestnut in Center City; its open-restroom policy dated from the 2018 arrests of two Black men at another Center City store.

Why it matters

Eighteen Philadelphia Starbucks workers face layoffs December 6, marking the latest closure in the city where the chain's 2018 racial-bias crisis began.

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Key Indicators

18
Employees affected in Philadelphia
Listed on the WARN notice filed with Pennsylvania in October 2026.
60
Days of advance notice required
Federal WARN Act requires 60 days' notice of a mass layoff or closing.
16
Stores closed in 2022
Included one Philadelphia location; Starbucks cited safety concerns.
8,000
Stores closed for 2018 racial-bias training
One-day closure of U.S. stores after the Philadelphia arrests.

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People Involved

Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson
Starbucks CEO during the 2018 Philadelphia crisis
Starbucks CEO at the time of the 2018 arrests
 Debbie Stroud
Debbie Stroud
Starbucks senior vice president of operations, 2022
Co-signed the 2022 letter announcing 16 store closures
 Denise Nelson
Denise Nelson
Starbucks senior vice president of operations, 2022
Co-signed the 2022 letter announcing 16 store closures

Organizations Involved

Starbucks
Starbucks
Public company
Subject of the WARN notice

Global coffee chain and the employer named on the layoff notice.
Starbucks Workers United
Starbucks Workers United
Labor union
Led organizing campaign and challenged 2022 closures

Union organizing Starbucks employees across the U.S.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
State agency
Posted the WARN notice on October 7, 2026

State agency that maintains and publishes WARN notice records.

Timeline

2018 October 2026

7 events Latest: 2 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. State posts Starbucks WARN notice

    Latest Regulatory filing

    Notice lists 18 employees and a December 6, 2026 closure date.

  2. Starbucks announces 16 store closures

    Corporate action

    Includes Philadelphia's 10th and Chestnut location; cites drug use and disruptive behavior.

  3. Union files retaliation complaint

    Labor dispute

    Starbucks Workers United files an unfair labor practice charge alleging the closures punish organizing.

  4. Starbucks closes 8,000 stores for training

    Corporate action

    175,000 employees undergo racial-bias education after the arrests.

  5. Starbucks announces racial-bias training

    Corporate response

    CEO Kevin Johnson apologizes; 8,000 U.S. stores will close May 29 for training.

  6. Two Black men arrested at Philadelphia Starbucks

    Incident

    Police arrest two Black men waiting for a meeting at the 18th and Walnut store after a manager calls 911; they were held about eight hours.

  7. Starbucks adopts open-restroom policy

    Policy change

    After the arrests, Starbucks allows anyone to use restrooms without purchasing.

Scenarios

1

Starbucks completes Philadelphia closure on schedule

Likely Resolves by Dec 6, 2026

Discussed by: The WARN notice itself; the December 6 closure is the company's stated plan.

The most straightforward outcome: Starbucks closes the store on or near December 6 as filed. As in the 2022 closures, the company may offer transfers to nearby locations, though the notice lists the 18 employees as affected, meaning layoffs are possible.

2

Starbucks reverses course, keeps Philadelphia store open

Unlikely Resolves by Dec 6, 2026

Discussed by: A rare possibility; WARN notices are seldom withdrawn once filed.

If the closure draws public or political backlash, or if Starbucks decides the location is still viable, it could withdraw or amend the notice and keep the store running. Companies occasionally reverse closures, but doing so after a formal WARN filing is uncommon.

3

Union files retaliation charge over Philadelphia closure

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Starbucks Workers United, which filed a similar charge over the 2022 closures.

The union could argue the closure punishes workers for organizing or raising safety concerns, echoing its 2022 complaint. A charge would go to the National Labor Relations Board, which could seek injunctive relief, though the store may still close while the case proceeds.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

April-May 2018

Starbucks Philadelphia arrests (April 2018)

Two Black men waiting for a business meeting at a Philadelphia Starbucks at 18th and Walnut were arrested after a manager called 911. They hadn't bought anything and declined to leave, police said. They were held about eight hours before release; Starbucks didn't press charges.

Then

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson apologized, and the company closed 8,000 U.S. stores for an afternoon of racial-bias training for 175,000 employees. The two men reached a settlement with Starbucks.

Now

Starbucks adopted an open-restroom policy allowing anyone to use facilities without buying anything. The policy later became a safety liability, and Starbucks began reversing it in 2022.

Why this matters now

Philadelphia became the reference point for Starbucks' store policy. The 2026 closure notice is read against this history, making it the second Starbucks exit from the city since the crisis.

July 2022

Starbucks 16-store closure wave (July 2022)

Starbucks announced it would close 16 U.S. stores, six in Seattle, six in Los Angeles, two in Portland, one in Philadelphia, and one in Washington, citing repeated safety issues including drug use and disruptive behavior. Employees were offered transfers.

Then

Starbucks Workers United filed an unfair labor practice charge alleging the closures were retaliation for organizing. Two closing Seattle stores had voted to unionize.

Now

The wave marked the beginning of Starbucks reversing its 2018 open-restroom policy, closing restrooms at some stores for safety. It established a template of closures justified by safety.

Why this matters now

The 2026 WARN notice adds a Philadelphia closure; the record does not name the location. The union's 2022 retaliation charge offers a precedent for any challenge to the new closure.

Sources

(4)
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry NBC News NBC10 Philadelphia PhillyVoice