Starbucks Closes Dozen Illinois Locations

Starbucks has quietly closed at least a dozen stores across Illinois, most of them in Chicago, as part of a national restructuring plan that includes closing 1% of its North American locations.

National Closures and Corporate Restructuring

The move comes after Starbucks announced a plan to streamline operations and refocus on what CEO Brian Niccol called “the physical environments that reflect our brand and deliver the warmth and connection our customers expect.”

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As part of the initiative, the company is:

Closing or converting up to 100 “Pick Up-only” stores nationwide by 2026.
Cutting around 900 corporate (non-retail) jobs.
Investing roughly $1 billion into restructuring efforts aimed at improving profitability and the customer experience.

Niccol said some stores were simply “underperforming or in areas where we can no longer sustain the expected financial performance.”

Confirmed Illinois Locations That Have Closed

According to a report from Cheapism, at least a dozen Illinois Starbucks stores have shut down, including the following Chicago addresses:

1588 N Milwaukee Ave
1599 N Clybourn Ave
1430 W Taylor St
209 W Jackson Blvd
151 N Michigan Ave
111 E Chestnut St
1520 W Harrison St
120 S Riverside Plaza
3232 W Foster Ave
9438 S Ashland Ave
5964 N Ridge Ave
1174 E 55th St

Additional closures have also been reported or are under review for locations such as Hyde Park, Schaumburg, Glenview, and several downtown Chicago sites.

Focus on Experience Over Convenience

The company is phasing out its “Pick Up-only” stores, saying they have proven to be “too transactional and lacking the human connection that defines our brand.” Instead, Starbucks plans to invest in more full-service cafés and drive-thru locations that align with customer expectations for comfort and community.

Impact on Workers and Customers

Starbucks says it’s working to transfer affected employees to nearby stores whenever possible. Workers who can’t be reassigned will receive severance packages, according to Business Insider.

For customers, the closures may mean longer drives or fewer options in dense city areas — particularly in neighborhoods where multiple Starbucks locations once operated within walking distance of each other.

More Closures Possible

It’s still unclear whether the dozen Illinois stores listed will be the last to close. Reports indicate more announcements could come in the next several weeks as Starbucks finalizes which locations will permanently shut down.

Cheapism and other local outlets plan to continue updating lists as new information becomes available.