This marks at least the second closure on the Westside’s main thoroughfare this year
A Starbucks location at 1705 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica has shut its doors, marking at least the second closure on the Westside’s main thoroughfare this year as the coffee chain continues to trim underperforming stores nationwide.
The closure, confirmed through local listings and customer reports, follows the planned shuttering of a pickup-only store on Main Street earlier this year, part of Starbucks’ broader shift away from mobile-order-only concepts launched in 2019. The company reported a 2% decline in U.S. same-store sales and a 4% drop in customer transactions during its most recent quarter, prompting CEO Brian Niccol to emphasize a “get back to Starbucks” strategy focused on hospitality and traditional service.
In Los Angeles County, at least 10 stores are slated for closure or conversion, including sites in Redondo Beach, Glendale and West Los Angeles. A broader list of more than 20 affected locations in Greater Los Angeles includes addresses along Wilshire Boulevard such as 1090 Wilshire Blvd., 3785 Wilshire Blvd. and 3150 Wilshire Blvd., as well as 12100 Santa Monica Blvd. and 3006 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
To counter the slump, Starbucks is introducing the “Green Apron Service” model to speed up service, simplifying its menu and testing new beverages like protein-infused drinks.
