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In a city struggling with a rising tide of crime, at least seven San Francisco Starbucks locations in the downtown area are set to close their doors. This deals another blow to the beleaguered city's business landscape. 

There is wide speculation that the closures are due to the crime wave. However, Starbucks does not attribute the closures to security concerns.

The decision to shutter these stores was communicated via an internal memo to district managers, as reported by the San Francisco Business Times.

 Currently, the coffee giant operates 59 stores in the city. This includes company-owned outlets but excludes licensed locations situated within stores like Target or Safeway.

San Francisco Starbucks Closings

The Starbucks stores marked for closure are as follows:

• 201 Mission St.
• 442 Geary St.
• 425 Battery St.
• 398 Market St.
• 780 Market St.
• 555 California St.
• 1401 Van Ness Ave

Jessica Borton, Starbucks’s regional vice president for Northern California, emphasized that the company routinely evaluates its store locations, a process that encompasses opening new stores, identifying locations requiring investment or renovation, exploring alternative formats, and occasionally reevaluating their footprint.

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Retail shrinking in Downtown San Francisco 

Starbucks joins a growing list of major businesses exiting San Francisco in response to ongoing issues related to crime. A recent study revealed that nearly 97% of all restaurants in the city have experienced property crime or graffiti in the past month.

Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Old Navy, Office Depot, H&M, and Athleta are just a few of the businesses that have contributed to the broader exodus. San Francisco's economy has sustained significant damage, with its technology sector witnessing an outflow of residents and a heightened focus on remote work.

As of September, office vacancy rates in the city stood at a staggering 30%, and San Francisco's credit rating has sunk to new lows. Starbucks, however, contends that it remains invested in the city, having spent $2.5 million on renovating four locations and opening three new stores to support the local community.

"We remain dedicated to investing in the city in meaningful and important ways that meet our partners and customers where they are — in the best way we know how," Borton said.