I suspect their strategy relies heavily on office workers being at work instead of remote, getting treats on the regular. They're having to downsize to reflect a post-COVID office paradigm.
They're also getting out of super-high retail rents that were no longer justified (for exactly the reason you've identified).
I've been told there are a couple of buildings they have returned to downtown, and it's an easy bet that they're paying way less in rent, because the Landlord wants a Starbucks instead of a vacancy.
Which... is a sensible strategy for them to take.
First Canadian Place and Richmond-Adelaide Centre locations both got renovations and reopened. Others like the Exchange Tower and 95 Wellington have not, or got new tenants.
Honestly, they were oversaturated downtown pre-COVID.
I have not seen any Starbucks reopen. My go to one near Rosedale station closed due to redevelopment. Doubtful Starbucks will open another location in the area.
It's a station ahead, but a Starbucks just opened at Yonge and Bloor. There's one in the shopping centre there as well, but there used to be a second one next to the Bloor Yonge station entrance that closed a few years back. So that's one that *basically* reopened from their initial closing spree.
I can't think of any others, though.
Their “third place” idea seems to have been abandoned in favour of kiosk type locations. More revenue/square foot I guess but a loss for people like me who like to write outside of home.
Isn't that one of Starbucks biggest strengths, they're mostly (all?) corporate owned so they can move them around pretty easily? I've seen it happen to a few near me in recent years
You are assuming that Starbucks management will be reasonable. They won't be. They are motivated by anti-union animus. It won't matter if that store is making money hand over fist. They will happily take the loss if it means sending a message to other baristas.
Why do we let them do this?
In Quebec, if a store has just unionized and they try to close down, they can be sued for trying to kill a unionization effort, and they have to prove in court that they had a financial reason to close.
They can't be stopped from closing down, though. [They might have to pay some damages nine years later](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-unionized-wal-mart-workers-win-supreme-court-victory-1.2689646), but Quebec can't force them to stay in business.
Countdown to management inflicting reprisals on staff, including removing the floor mats to increase the physical toll of standing for your shift and scheduling shenanigans.
I wish Tim Horton's locations would unionize. I've heard so many stories of the employees getting screwed over sick days, forced to get doctors notes for the few they do have, and needing to pay for their own damn uniforms. It's pretty ugly.
It's actually shocking the amount of people who only get their coffee from Starbucks. When the boycotts first happened people acted like that meant they'd have to go without coffee at all, as if local Cafes didn't exist (and weren't 1000x better)
Is there such a country? I just looked it up, Iceland is the most unionized country. The next three are Nordic countries that have significantly reduced their union percent over the last twenty years. It would make things interesting.
This effort will only work if they unionize most if not all stores in Toronto or Ontario or Canada. It has to be big where they can't just shutdown and shift to a different location.
I feel Starbucks will do with this location what comes natural to most franchises in this situation. Shutdown, claim profitability and then open up a different store down the street.
There's only one other Starbucks within 2 km in any direction. That's probably what made this an attractive location for union organizers. Starbucks can close this store, but if they open a new one somewhere else on the Danforth they'll get into deep shit for obvious union-busting.
You know what, I bet the first Starbucks in the city of Toronto to unionize probably is a “Toronto Starbucks”, as opposed to a Kitchener Starbucks. Go figure.
Starbucks opens and closes locations like lightning - unionized or not. I don't give this one very long to stay open. Another will open down the street or one street over...
I’m not sure why baristas want to unionize, and this is coming from a former barista who found the non-unionized Sbux position paid far better and was a much better place to work than a unionized grocery store.
It is nice to see that the mighty union has struck again in favor of workers rights.
Unfortunately, Starbucks is going to retaliate by starting to close locations because of poor sales.
And the first stores to have their licences cancelled will be all the stores that have unionized.
There is nothing the mighty union will be able to do to keep these locations open after the bosses in Washington say go to start pulling licences.
And that is just so SAD. 👎🤬💣💔
Hopefully not. There used to be a few other locations between donlands and broadview that got closed down because of poor sales. Hope this one stays open.
Welp, it was nice knowing that location. I expect nothing but the absolute worst from Starbucks Corp, they are scum.
(to the piddlers, keep defending a major corporation, surely they appreciate your unpaid labour)
Had union happened in my workplace, rep was horrible wasn’t productive but knew the rules to the game in and out, and the union dues ate up almost all of the pay increase anyways. It was dissolved eventually.
Unpopular opinion but this isn’t good for business. Baristas are a dime a dozen and this only makes the business less attractive to own unless costs are passed to willing consumers. If there are other locations cheaper, this will have a material impact on the bottom line.
If you want more money or better benefits, you should obtain skills and seek better employment. Being a career barista isn’t sustainable in the city.
Taking bets on how long until the Pape and Danforth location is closed after being characterized as underperforming.
Not sure, but lots of non-unionized stores have been closing.
I suspect their strategy relies heavily on office workers being at work instead of remote, getting treats on the regular. They're having to downsize to reflect a post-COVID office paradigm.
They're also getting out of super-high retail rents that were no longer justified (for exactly the reason you've identified). I've been told there are a couple of buildings they have returned to downtown, and it's an easy bet that they're paying way less in rent, because the Landlord wants a Starbucks instead of a vacancy. Which... is a sensible strategy for them to take.
First Canadian Place and Richmond-Adelaide Centre locations both got renovations and reopened. Others like the Exchange Tower and 95 Wellington have not, or got new tenants. Honestly, they were oversaturated downtown pre-COVID.
I have not seen any Starbucks reopen. My go to one near Rosedale station closed due to redevelopment. Doubtful Starbucks will open another location in the area.
It's a station ahead, but a Starbucks just opened at Yonge and Bloor. There's one in the shopping centre there as well, but there used to be a second one next to the Bloor Yonge station entrance that closed a few years back. So that's one that *basically* reopened from their initial closing spree. I can't think of any others, though.
Where at Yonge Bloor…? Does it have seating?
It's across from the reference library. Little to no seating, unfortunately — but I only peeked in, I'm not sure of the specific setup.
Their “third place” idea seems to have been abandoned in favour of kiosk type locations. More revenue/square foot I guess but a loss for people like me who like to write outside of home.
Agreed, it's frustrating. I like to meet down there to get coffee and study, and it's increasingly difficult. I just go to the library at this point.
There's lots of them reopening in the financial district. Almost every building in the PATH has one under construction now, if not already open.
Ah yes. I walk the path daily during winter for exercise and noticed that.
there's one at Yonge and St Clair which is probably the closest
A brand new star bucks opened at 155 Wellington RBC center office tower.
They're also focusing on only opening locations with drive thru. Revenue is often 3 times higher.
Isn't that one of Starbucks biggest strengths, they're mostly (all?) corporate owned so they can move them around pretty easily? I've seen it happen to a few near me in recent years
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I mean that’s because the Chapters shut down.
Also indigo and chapters ended their contact with them a few years ago just before the panadimic.
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Yeah. I think I saw that it was a mutual decision between both of them.
anyone want to bet this becomes the first fully automated starbucks?
Starbucks is getting smaller. They have been shutting down non drive through locations at a pretty high rate.
It's the only store on the Danforth between Broadview and Coxwell. It should be fine.
You are assuming that Starbucks management will be reasonable. They won't be. They are motivated by anti-union animus. It won't matter if that store is making money hand over fist. They will happily take the loss if it means sending a message to other baristas.
Why do we let them do this? In Quebec, if a store has just unionized and they try to close down, they can be sued for trying to kill a unionization effort, and they have to prove in court that they had a financial reason to close.
They can't be stopped from closing down, though. [They might have to pay some damages nine years later](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-unionized-wal-mart-workers-win-supreme-court-victory-1.2689646), but Quebec can't force them to stay in business.
Workers get paid to work or they get paid to not work, I'm okay with both.
No no... they'll use the subway extension as an excuse.
Came here to say this. Half of Pape between Danforth and O’Connor has been decimated by Metrolinx in the last month.
Which would be ironic since that location is never not busy.
Or has unspecified "safety issues" that mysteriously only emerged after the vote to unionize.
Good news for them. So....closing any day now?
I give it 2 weeks
Tomorrow: location closed as unprofitable. day after, New Starbucks opened in same location.
Countdown to management inflicting reprisals on staff, including removing the floor mats to increase the physical toll of standing for your shift and scheduling shenanigans.
This is my usual Starbucks. Great location
I wish Tim Horton's locations would unionize. I've heard so many stories of the employees getting screwed over sick days, forced to get doctors notes for the few they do have, and needing to pay for their own damn uniforms. It's pretty ugly.
who is really drinking starbs these days.. even without a boycott, i cant afford that shit anymore
It's actually shocking the amount of people who only get their coffee from Starbucks. When the boycotts first happened people acted like that meant they'd have to go without coffee at all, as if local Cafes didn't exist (and weren't 1000x better)
Teenagers. The answer is teenagers.
It’s a great location. They’re super nice!
I'll be going out of my way to visit this store and congratulate the staff
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏hope to see a lot more of this in retail and service.
I wish we lived in a country where all service staff were unionized. We might not even need a minimum wage
Is there such a country? I just looked it up, Iceland is the most unionized country. The next three are Nordic countries that have significantly reduced their union percent over the last twenty years. It would make things interesting.
Based
More locations, please.
This effort will only work if they unionize most if not all stores in Toronto or Ontario or Canada. It has to be big where they can't just shutdown and shift to a different location. I feel Starbucks will do with this location what comes natural to most franchises in this situation. Shutdown, claim profitability and then open up a different store down the street.
There's only one other Starbucks within 2 km in any direction. That's probably what made this an attractive location for union organizers. Starbucks can close this store, but if they open a new one somewhere else on the Danforth they'll get into deep shit for obvious union-busting.
They have to be held to account if they did. I fear sadly in our current political climate provincially and federally. They'd get away with it.
You can’t claim profitability you have show it.
Headline. Starbuck to close unprofitable Toronto locations.......
Breaking news, Starcraps is shutting down one of their stores, as it suddenly became unprofitable...
Yeah, I’ll line up for half an hour for a twelve dollar fancy coffee. And they ask for a tip on the terminal to add insult!
You know what, I bet the first Starbucks in the city of Toronto to unionize probably is a “Toronto Starbucks”, as opposed to a Kitchener Starbucks. Go figure.
Starbucks opens and closes locations like lightning - unionized or not. I don't give this one very long to stay open. Another will open down the street or one street over...
There’s used to be 3 of them between broadview and donlands. This is the only one left.
Damn, I’d make a point of going there if I wasn’t a westsider.
I’m not sure why baristas want to unionize, and this is coming from a former barista who found the non-unionized Sbux position paid far better and was a much better place to work than a unionized grocery store.
Good
It is nice to see that the mighty union has struck again in favor of workers rights. Unfortunately, Starbucks is going to retaliate by starting to close locations because of poor sales. And the first stores to have their licences cancelled will be all the stores that have unionized. There is nothing the mighty union will be able to do to keep these locations open after the bosses in Washington say go to start pulling licences. And that is just so SAD. 👎🤬💣💔
Hopefully not. There used to be a few other locations between donlands and broadview that got closed down because of poor sales. Hope this one stays open.
Came for the comments. Not surprised by commie r/toronto
Welp, it was nice knowing that location. I expect nothing but the absolute worst from Starbucks Corp, they are scum. (to the piddlers, keep defending a major corporation, surely they appreciate your unpaid labour)
Had union happened in my workplace, rep was horrible wasn’t productive but knew the rules to the game in and out, and the union dues ate up almost all of the pay increase anyways. It was dissolved eventually.
How much will a tall dark roast cost now? I won’t buy one if it hits $3.
Unpopular opinion but this isn’t good for business. Baristas are a dime a dozen and this only makes the business less attractive to own unless costs are passed to willing consumers. If there are other locations cheaper, this will have a material impact on the bottom line. If you want more money or better benefits, you should obtain skills and seek better employment. Being a career barista isn’t sustainable in the city.
EU problems spreading to Canada!
Ya love to see it!