MADISON (WKOW) — Five Wisconsin Starbucks locations are now closed. It’s part of a nationwide shuttering of more than 100 locations.
A Madison store at the intersection of E. Washington Ave. and First St. is part of those closures. The doors are locked and windows are covered just days after Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol announced the closures.
In a statement, Niccol said the decision comes as Starbucks reviewed its North America coffeehouse portfolio and during the review, they identified coffeehouses unable to create the physical environment customers and partners expect.
Right next to the East Washington Ave. location is Tabby & Jack’s, a pet store and groomer.
Celeste Kimmel is a professional groomer at Tabby & Jack’s. She and her co-workers would go grab Starbucks next door nearly every day.
“For a pick me up with caffeine, or if I didn’t have time for breakfast in the morning, I grabbed pastry, or, you know, needed a quick lunch sandwich,” said Kimmel.
Kimmel said being right next door benefitted the business. She explained that a common trend she noticed was if people were at Starbucks or Mint Mark, a restaurant in the same plaza, they would pop into the pet store to check it out.
But now that Starbucks is closed, that isn’t the case anymore.
“Foot traffic is going to be impacted,” said Kimmel. “It’s definitely been slower today already.”