Starbucks is pulling back on its presence in Canada with plans to close up to 200 coffee shops.
Metro Vancouver coffee drinkers have already seen some of the chain’s biggest outlets close, including a longstanding shop across from Kitsilano Beach.
Now, more shops look ready to be closed. Burnaby’s biggest mall, Metropolis at Metrotown, already has two Starbucks located in the same mall. One is located inside the mall’s busy food court. The other is located on the north side of the mall. There is a third location next door on the south side of Station Square.
Does one area need this many Starbucks? Possibly because Metrotown is such a busy area, including the city’s busiest SkyTrain station.
The Seattle-based chain says it intends to restructure its company-operated business in Canada under a two-year plan. The details were included in a letter to shareholders filed on Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company outlined a number of broad changes it was introducing as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving consumer habits.
Starbucks says some of the Canadian stores up for closure will be "repositioned," which suggests they could either move to a new area or change format.
The company has been experimenting with locations that are pick-up only coffee shops. The first Canadian location using the new format launched in January in Toronto.
- With files from the Canadian Press
