Billings will be down one Starbucks location by Sunday.
The drive thru-only location at 316 S. 24th St. W., in the Rimrock Mall parking lot is one of 504 Starbucks locations closing nationwide and in Canada. The Billings location is one of two locations closing in Montana, according to a store-closure list. The other is in Livingston.
Baristas at the drive-thru said they were notified of their store’s closure on Thursday. They will find out on Saturday if they will be relocated to other Starbucks locations in the area or if they will receive severance pay.
A letter to customers posted on the drive-thru window says, “We know many of you will be thinking of your favorite partner (barista), and we’re working closely to support our partners through this position.”
The closure comes as part of the company’s plan to close about 1% of its total stores in North America and is part of new CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” transformation strategy, which aims to refocus and return to the company’s roots: coffee and human connection, a Starbucks blog post said.
With a commitment to “elevating the in-store experience,” it’s simple to see why a location that has been operating as a drive thru-only service for years, is one slated for closure.
Niccol steps into his CEO leadership role at Starbucks after recently transforming the Chipotle brand, where, according to a Starbucks press release, Niccol doubled revenue, increased profits sevenfold and increased its stock price by nearly 800% during his leadership there.
According to Starbucks’ store-locator, the location on 24th Street is the only one operating solely on drive-thru sales. The 13 other Billings-area locations have in-store dining options, where Niccol’s “back to Starbucks” priorities lie.
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Lillian Palmer
Business and Health Reporter
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