Why do Starbucks keep closing temporarily? Here’s what’s up with some Fresno locations
There is apparently no greater inconvenience in life than not being able to get your morning Starbucks – at least that’s how it seems if you’re scrolling through social media.
Starbucks customers are loyal, but they won’t be happy if something stands in the way of their grande iced caramel macchiato with almond milk and an extra shot of espresso.
Over the last few years, some Starbucks locations in Fresno have occasionally closed for a few days at a time.
Last week, the Starbucks in Fig Garden Village closed for about 10 days, reopening last Friday. Others, downtown and elsewhere, have occasionally closed for a short while.
Sometimes – like the Starbucks at Clinton and Blackstone avenues this week – without a sign saying it’s closed. Just a sandwich board blocking the drive-thru.
We’re not talking permanent closures, which is a normal part of any national business looking to maximize profits by closing underforming locations and opening new ones. Starbucks never said exactly why the Olive Avenue Starbucks in the Tower District closed, for example, but the chain is increasingly focusing on drive-thrus.
So what’s up with the temporary closures?
We asked Starbucks.
A representative who asked not to be named told us it has to do with COVID-19 and a staffing situation.
There are three reasons a Starbucks might shut down for a few days: an employee may have tested positive for coronavirus, an employee is exposed to someone who has tested positive, or they’re experiencing symptoms.
Starbucks wants to give employees time to test and isolate at home, the representative said.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that someone there got sick with COVID-19.
It’s also a way of making sure their remaining employees don’t get overworked, she said.
Workers can sometimes get “catastrophe pay” for the time off.
And Starbucks isn’t the only one. All kinds of businesses, from Hi-Top Coffee to upscale The Vineyard Restaurant have closed for a day or two as they balance the pandemic and an ongoing staffing shortage.
If not knowing when your favorite Starbucks will reopen is inconvenient, the company recommends checking the “find a store” option on its website. It’s updated daily with hours and temporary closures.
Another reason Starbucks stores sometimes close? They’re remodeling.
That was the case when the popular location at Herndon and Palm avenues closed temporarily in November.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 10:20 AM.
