Starbucks cancels North Philly community store
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Starbucks has pulled the plug on plans to open a selective community store in North Philadelphia.
Why it matters: It's the second time the Seattle-based coffee giant has bailed on promises to open the neighborhood-focused store in an underserved neighborhood in the city.
State of play: Starbucks blamed construction costs for not moving forward with the delayed community store in North Philly, which was originally supposed to open last year, per a company spokesperson.
- Starbucks' community stores are designed to reflect the culture and character of the neighborhood they're based in, and each has a space for community events and programming. The company also commits to hiring diverse construction contractors for such stores.
Context: Starbucks has backed off its 2022 pledge to open 1,000 community stores globally by the end of the decade.
- And last year, the company shut down a community store in Trenton, New Jersey.
- Starbucks was also slated to open a community store in West Philly's ParkWest Town Center shopping plaza by 2021, but that plan was scrapped during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Starbucks is expected to open three new stores in Philly proper by the end of the summer.
- That includes the long-proposed Fishtown location at 1405 Frankford Ave. — located mere steps away from Philly-born La Colombe Coffee Roasters' flagship store.
The intrigue: Starbucks has been making a series of customer-focused changes this year to reverse a decline in foot traffic and sales, from writing on cups and bags to stopping a nondairy milk fee.
- CEO Brian Niccol told Axios earlier this summer that the company is refocusing on creating community spaces with more seating.