Starbucks has closed another location in San Francisco, bringing the total number of closures in the city to over a dozen in two years. The shop at 295 California Street, which had operated for nearly two decades, shut its doors in August 2025. This follows previous closures in 2023 and 2024, with at least six closures since last September and four in 2024 alone. The closures are attributed to high labor costs, rising operating expenses, shifting consumer habits, and a strategic reevaluation of store presence. San Francisco’s new $20 per hour minimum wage law, effective April 2024, has increased labor costs, prompting concerns about job losses and economic strain on retailers. Analysts note that Starbucks is also phasing out its pickup-only model nationwide by 2026, with between 80 and 90 such locations expected to close or convert to traditional cafes. The company currently operates between 35 and 37 company-owned stores in San Francisco, down from 59 in October 2023. Retail experts and customers suggest that competition from local independent coffee shops and high real estate costs have contributed to the decline. The city has seen a broader wave of retail closures, including from major chains like Target, Whole Foods, and Nordstrom, due to theft, high operating costs, and slow downtown recovery.

San Francisco has experienced six Starbucks store closures since November 2024, including the shutdown of a location at 295 California Street in the Financial District on August 1. The closures are attributed to the natural end of lease agreements, with employees offered relocation to nearby stores. The company reported a 2% decline in sales and a 47% drop in net income to $558 million in the second quarter of 2025, amid rising worker unionization and staffing concerns. Starbucks plans to close around 90 drive-thru stores across the U.S. by the end of 2026, with some in the Bay Area, and will convert certain stores into traditional cafés with seating to improve the customer experience.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol earns $97.8 million in four months of 2024, which is 6,666 times more than the average Starbucks employee's annual pay of $15,000. His compensation includes a base salary, bonuses, private security, stock awards, free coffee for life, and unlimited use of the company's private jet for both work and personal travel. The disparity in pay has raised concerns about employee morale, with reports suggesting that the average worker would have had to start working in 4643 BC to earn what Niccol made in 2024 alone.

Starbucks South Korea has introduced a new policy prohibiting customers from bringing bulky office equipment such as desktop computers, printers, and desk partitions into its stores. The move aims to improve store accessibility and allow shared seating for all patrons. The policy does not impose time limits on customer stays and welcomes laptops and smaller personal devices. This action responds to the growing 'cagongjok' trend in South Korea, where people work or study in cafés for extended periods. Starbucks South Korea is the company's third-largest market after the US and China, with over 2,000 outlets. The company reported a sixth consecutive quarter of global same-store sales declines in Q3 2025, with sales down 2% year-over-year, and its stock has declined by about 18% over the past six months. In the US, CEO Brian Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' plan includes measures like reintroducing ceramic mugs, self-serve condiment bars, and adding more power outlets to encourage longer customer stays in stores.

The article highlights vegan breakfast options available at various fast-food chains globally, including McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks, Burger King, Jamba Juice, Peet’s Coffee, and Plant Power Fast Food. It notes the growing trend of plant-based eating, driven by rising vegan and flexitarian populations, and explains how chains are adapting menus to meet demand. Specific vegan items such as the McPlant, vegan chicken burgers, Impossible Breakfast Sandwiches, and plant-based alternatives like JUST Egg and dairy-free cheese are discussed. The article also provides recipes for homemade vegan breakfasts, emphasizing accessibility and variety.