Astor Place Starbucks closes its doors for good after nearly 30 years in business
EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A long-standing Starbucks in the heart of the East Village closed its doors permanently on Monday.
The coffee shop on Lafayette and 8th Street in Astor Place is now closed.
The closure will be felt by customers and regulars of the store -- bringing an end to the location's nearly three decades of service to the area since the store's opening in 1995.
The company said it will work with Workers United to collaborate on next steps, including transfer options, for the partners who were employed at the store.
A Starbucks spokesperson said, "We do not take the decision to close stores lightly. Our relationship with our customers is deeply personal, and we are honored to have been their Third Place."
The spokesperson went on to say that the company continually evaluates the store portfolio by using various criteria to ensure they are meeting all needs of its customers.
EV Grieve first reported the store closure and said a manager told them that the landlords increased the rent too high.
In response, an ASG Equities spokesperson issued a statement saying they are appreciative of the coffee company's decades as a tenant:
"ASG is appreciative of Starbucks' decades-long tenancy at 21 Astor. We are sad they chose to leave, even as we offered a lease extension that would have allowed them to remain in their existing space at the exact same rent. This corner on top of the Astor Place subway has extensive glass frontage, tremendous signage, and incredible foot traffic. We are quite confident that this space will be of interest to a wide range of community-oriented retailers."
The spokesperson for Starbucks urged customers to visit other nearby locations. The closest stores include:
- Broadway & Bond - 665 Broadway New York, NY
- NYU 4th & Washington Sq E - 45 West 4th Street New York, NY
- 15th & 3rd - 145 3rd Ave New York, NY
ALSO READ: Tips to reduce or eliminate credit card fees and save money
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
