Starbucks to close nine Southwest Florida coffee shops
Seattle-based Starbucks announced Thursday it will shutter nine stores in Southwest Florida, including two in Bonita Springs, one at Coconut Point, one at Gulf Coast Town Center, three in Fort Myers and two in Naples. There are about 25 stores throughout Lee and Collier counties, including those inside SuperTarget stores.
The Starbucks at Coconut Point Mall in Estero has become a hangout for Cate Stiffler, who was surprised to hear of its impending doom.
Cate visits the coffeehouse twice a week with her mother.
“All the people are nice, they make really good drinks,” she said. “All the food is really good.”
Maurice Barry wondered where he might get a good cup of coffee.
“With gas the way it is, I might just make my own,” said Barry, 28, of Bonita Springs.
Robert Bidrine, who works as a sales associate at Blackhawk Cafe, a coffee shop at the Bell Tower Shops, said he was glad to hear of the store closures.
“It will give smaller mom-and-pop stores a chance and it will get a different crowd in here,” he said.
Bidrine said he hoped the closings would drive more young people into his establishment, which has managed to scoop up a few of Starbucks’ faithful customers.
Tags: cate, Food, target