Residents of the Conejo Valley will say goodbye to two longtime coffeehouses as Starbucks confirms the closure of its Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks store at 2755 Agoura Road and the Calabasas shop at 26531 Agoura Road. The closures are part of a company‑wide effort to streamline its North American portfolio and focus on locations that can consistently deliver the experience the brand promises.
Company rationale
Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams explained that Starbucks regularly reviews its store network and removes sites that do not meet financial or service standards. “Some coffeehouses continue to underperform,” Grams said, noting that the broader North American business has shown improvement despite the closures.
The decision aligns with the “Back to Starbucks” strategy launched by CEO Brian Niccol after he took over in 2024. The plan emphasizes better service, more welcoming environments, and restoring Starbucks as a place where customers want to linger and connect.
Impact on employees and customers
Starbucks has pledged to help affected partners (employees) by offering transfers to other stores where possible and providing severance support for those who cannot be reassigned. A sign posted in the Westlake Village window read, “Many of you are thinking of your favorite barista. Please know we’re working closely to support our partners through this transition.”
For local coffee lovers, the loss of these two stores means a longer walk to the nearest remaining locations, though several other Starbucks outlets remain within a short drive.
Broader corporate context
The closures represent about 1% of Starbucks’ more than 18,000 North American coffeehouses, according to Grams. They follow a previous round of shutdowns that saw 627 stores close across North America and Europe last September, accompanied by roughly 900 non‑retail layoffs.
Despite the store reductions, Starbucks reported improving sales in its most recent fiscal third‑quarter results. Comparable store sales in North America rose 8.1% for the 13 weeks ending June 28, and the average ticket increased 3.5%. Globally, comparable sales grew 7.9%, and the company posted $9.3 billion in consolidated revenue, a 1% decline from the prior year. Earnings per share jumped 86% to 91 cents.
However, the company trimmed its fiscal 2026 forecast for net new global coffeehouses to about 440, down from an earlier projection of 600‑650. Grams emphasized that Starbucks remains committed to growth in North America and is actively developing a pipeline of new coffeehouses.
Local perspective
Community members expressed disappointment at losing familiar gathering spots, but many also recognize the company’s need to focus resources on locations that can thrive. The closures underscore the challenges even large, well‑known brands face in balancing expansion with financial discipline.
Starbucks has not disclosed the total number of employees affected nationwide by this latest round of closures.
For now, the Conejo Valley will adjust to a slightly reduced Starbucks footprint while the brand works to strengthen its remaining stores and plan future openings.
Original reporting: Thousand Oaks Acorn — read the source article.
