Monday, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 |
Photo – Starbucks sign – Courtesy Samantha Davis
After only two years in operation, the Rawlins Starbucks has closed.
On Sunday, September 28th, the Rawlins Starbucks, located at 2409 Plaza Street, ceased operations. The decision came after Starbucks corporate announced the closure of 1% of its North American stores. Competition from other retail coffee chains and increased inflation has led the coffee giant to undergo a $1 billion restructuring plan, which includes laying off more than 900 employees and closing 400 stores nationwide.
According to multiple news outlets, the global investment firm UBS conducted a survey of 1,600 Starbucks customers and found that more than 70% cited high prices as the reason they were visiting less often.
The Rawlins Starbucks opened its doors two years ago, in September of 2023. The company constructed an entirely new building to house the coffee shop. Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol is quoted as saying that the stores being shuddered weren’t “what our customers and partners expect” or weren’t making money, which evidently includes the Rawlins location.
Rawlins’ residents took to social media to voice frustration over the shutdown, citing the store’s friendly staff and short time in operation. A Facebook post from Friday indicated that the location was extremely busy following confirmation of the closure.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has said the company focused too much on mobile orders that “took a lot of the soul” out of the brand. Niccol said he plans to return the coffee chain to its roots as a social gathering space by adding more tables, seating options, and power outlets to its remaining stores.
The Rawlins Starbucks joins Taco John’s and Burger King on the list of major food and beverage chains that have closed in recent years.
