Starbucks announced it will "sunset" its mobile order and pickup-only stores, a move poised to impact over a dozen locations across California that have offered customers a quick option in lieu of a more traditional ordering experience.
The Starbucks Pick Up is a store “exclusively designed for mobile orders and quick pick up without the wait,” where customers order on the app and choose the Pick Up location closest to them to get their food and drink once they're ready.
"We found this format to be overly transactional and lacking the warmth and human connection that defines our brand," CEO Brian Niccol said in a July earnings call.
Approximately 80 to 90 Starbucks "Pick Up" stores across more than 20 states will be impacted, with some locations facing permanent closure while others will be converted into traditional coffeehouses at a later date, according to Niccol and the chain's website.
Despite the shift in strategy, the company is not moving away from mobile ordering, as it accounts for 31% of transactions, Starbucks said in a statement to USA TODAY.
"We have a strong digital offering and believe we can deliver the same level of convenience through our community coffeehouses with a superior Mobile Order and Pay experience," Niccol said.
See list of Starbucks Pick Up locations in California
Here are the 20 Starbucks Pick Up locations in California, according to the company's website:
Pepper Avenue and Valley Boulevard, Colton
Sierra and Marygold avenues, Fontana
Brand Boulevard and Milford Street, Glendale
Canada Boulevard/North Verdugo Road, Glendale
795 First St., Gilroy
Highway 1 and Belleville Boulevard, Half Moon Bay
Broadway and Eighth streets, Los Angeles
National Boulevard and Overland Avenue, Los Angeles
Santa Fe Avenue and Third Street, Los Angeles
Union Station East Portal, Los Angeles
Western Avenue and Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles
Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, Los Angeles
Mountain Avenue and Hawthorne Street, Ontario
Baseline Road and Day Creek Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga
Artesia Boulevard and Flagger Lane, Redondo Beach
Broadway Avenue and Curtis Street, Salida
West Broadway and Front Street, San Diego
California and Drumm streets, San Francisco
Main Street and Ashland Avenue, Santa Monica
Yorba Linda Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue, Yorba Linda
When does Starbucks release pumpkin spice lattes?
Amid the operational changes slated for fiscal year 2026 comes the return of a staple item for Starbucks.
Pumpkin spice lattes return on Aug. 26 this year, joining a fall menu that includes the pumpkin cream cold brew, the iced pumpkin cream chai and the pecan crunch oatmilk latte.
How many Starbucks are in California?
There are over 3,000 Starbucks stores in California, according to data company ScrapeHero.
When was Starbucks founded?
Starbucks opened in 1971 in Seattle.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Starbucks to end pickup-only stores, 20 of which are in California
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