Starbucks to Close Easton Town Center and Short North Locations in Columbus
The coffee giant is shuttering cafes at 4015 Easton Station and 1014 N. High St. as part of a 250-store North American contraction under CEO Brian Niccol.
Starbucks will close two Columbus coffeehouses in late September 2026, eliminating a foundational retail tenant at Easton Town Center and a recent storefront in the Short North Arts District as parent company Starbucks Corporation shrinks its North American footprint.
A company spokesperson confirmed that the coffeehouses at 4015 Easton Station and 1014 N. High St. are closing as part of an ongoing portfolio review. While Starbucks did not publicly specify an exact final operating day, the company's mobile ordering application listed both Columbus locations as closed beginning Sept. 27.
Corporate Retrenchment Under Turnaround Plan
The Columbus shutdowns are part of a broader corporate contraction in which Starbucks plans to shutter approximately 250 underperforming cafes, representing roughly 1% of its more than 18,000 North American properties. Most of those closings are scheduled to take effect before the conclusion of the company's 2026 fiscal year in late September.
The national closures represent the second wave of North American cafe reductions during the two-year tenure of chief executive officer Brian Niccol, who has led a restructuring focused on enhancing customer experience and in-person cafe hospitality under a companywide turnaround. In an internal communication addressed to staff, Starbucks chief operating officer Mike Grams explained that leadership evaluated regional stores to identify sites lacking a clear trajectory toward corporate targets.
"We have carefully reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio and identified locations where we do not believe we can consistently deliver the experience we want for customers and partners or where we don't see a path to acceptable financial performance," Grams wrote.
To execute the contraction, Starbucks expects to record approximately $300 million in restructuring charges. That sum includes roughly $200 million dedicated to early lease termination costs and separation packages for departing personnel, alongside $100 million in noncash impairments and asset disposals. For affected baristas and staff at the shuttered shops, Starbucks announced it would seek store transfers where opportunities exist and offer severance packages to those who cannot be reassigned.
Divergent Histories in Columbus Neighborhoods
The two closing Columbus storefronts entered the local market at markedly different stages of the chain's regional expansion, though neither location appears to offer drive-thru service.
At Easton Town Center, the cafe at 4015 Easton Station sits adjacent to Piada in the complex's South District. The shopping destination counts Starbucks among its original tenants dating back to Easton's opening in 1999. Despite the departure, the company maintains two nearby alternatives within the Easton development: an outlet at 3954 Morse Crossing and an interior licensed counter located inside Macy's.
By contrast, the Short North coffeehouse at 1014 N. High St. represents a short-lived presence. Plans to convert the property, which previously housed the Julep bar, were reported in 2024.
The pair of closures continues a recent reconfiguration of the coffee chain across central Ohio. In May, grocery chain Kroger confirmed that it closed four in-store Starbucks kiosks, including three Columbus counters and one in Dublin. Those reductions followed the 2025 closure of a pickup-only Starbucks near the Ohio State University campus at Neil and 11th avenues.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/starbucks-confirms-two-columbus-stores-181114844.html
Supporting evidence (7)
A company spokesperson confirmed that the coffeehouses at 4015 Easton Station and 1014 N.
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A company spokesperson confirmed to The Dispatch that the Starbucks at 4015 Easton Station and the store at 1014 N. High St. in the Short North are among approximately 250 North American coffeehouses slated to close.
While Starbucks did not publicly specify an exact final operating day, the company's mobile ordering application listed both Columbus locations as closed beginning Sept. 27.
Read supporting passage
Starbucks did not provide a final day of business for either store, however, the Starbucks mobile app lists both locations as closed starting Sept. 27.
For affected baristas and staff at the shuttered shops, Starbucks announced it would seek store transfers where opportunities exist and offer severance packages to those who cannot be reassigned.
Read supporting passage
The company said it would seek transfers for affected employees where possible and provide severance support to those it could not place at another coffeehouse.
The two closing Columbus storefronts entered the local market at markedly different stages of the chain's regional expansion, though neither location appears to offer drive-thru service.
Read supporting passage
Neither closing location appears to offer drive-thru service.
The shopping destination counts Starbucks among its original tenants dating back to Easton's opening in 1999.
Read supporting passage
The Easton location is next to Piada in the shopping center's South District. Easton identifies Starbucks as one of its original tenants, dating to the center's 1999 opening. Easton also lists another Starbucks at 3954 Morse Crossing and a Starbucks inside Macy's.
Plans to convert the property, which previously housed the Julep bar, were reported in 2024.
Read supporting passage
The Short North store occupies the former Julep bar space. Plans to convert the space into a Starbucks were reported in 2024.
In May, grocery chain Kroger confirmed that it closed four in-store Starbucks kiosks, including three Columbus counters and one in Dublin.
Read supporting passage
In May, Kroger confirmed that it had closed four Starbucks kiosks inside its stores, three in Columbus and one in Dublin. A Starbucks pickup-only location near Ohio State, at Neil and 11th avenues, was also identified for closure in 2025.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/24/starbucks-to-close-250-stores.html
Supporting evidence (4)
The Columbus shutdowns are part of a broader corporate contraction in which Starbucks plans to shutter approximately 250 underperforming cafes, representing roughly 1% of its more than 18,000 North American properties.
Read supporting passage
Starbucks expects to shutter about 250 underperforming cafes out of its more than 18,000 locations in North America.
The national closures represent the second wave of North American cafe reductions during the two-year tenure of chief executive officer Brian Niccol, who has led a restructuring focused on enhancing customer experience and in-person cafe hospitality under a companywide turnaround.
Read supporting passage
Under CEO Brian Niccol, Starbucks has staged a revamp of its U.S. business that has focused on improving the customer experience, including in-person interactions at its cafes. The announcement marks the second round of closures in North America during Niccol's two-year tenure.
"We have carefully reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio and identified locations where we do not believe we can consistently deliver the experience we want for customers and partners or where we don't see a path to acceptable financial performance," Grams wrote.
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"We have carefully reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio and identified locations where we do not believe we can consistently deliver the experience we want for customers and partners or where we don't see a path to acceptable financial performance," Mike Grams, Starbucks chief operating officer, wrote in a letter addressed to employees.
To execute the contraction, Starbucks expects to record approximately $300 million in restructuring charges.
Read supporting passage
The company expects to incur about $300 million in restructuring charges related to the closures. About $200 million of that charge will be related to the costs of exiting leases early and paying employees separation benefits. The remaining $100 million will be noncash charges from the disposal and impairment of its company-owned restaurant assets.