By: Dominic Hummel

Starbucks, a well known coffeehouse chain recognised for its beverages and the community focused atmosphere, has recently announced plans to close several hundred stores across the U.S by the end of the year.

According to reports from Yahoo finance, the decision is part of a larger restructuring plan aimed to increase efficiency. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol explained in response to the media they had the desire to “create great coffeehouses, offer world-class customer service, and grow the business. Each year we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations.”

Despite the closures, Starbucks still has a major presence in the coffee industry, with more than 18,000 locations across the U.S. and continuing to expand internationally. Customers continue to buy their coffee and rave about the new “seasonal drinks.”

“I personally like the brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso,” senior Caroline Cope said. “I really like Starbucks compared to other coffee places. Although it’s not the cheapest, I just really like the flavor and the consistency.”

”I’m not a big fan of Starbucks, mostly due to the price,” Bellbrook High School business teacher Josh Craig said. “Don’t get me wrong, I like the coffee. I just think it’s too expensive.”