Starbucks is closing its standalone location at Robertson Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood’s Rainbow District. The coffee chain’s location at 8969 Santa Monica Blvd. outside the Pavilions shopping center will shut down, though the Starbucks inside the Pavilions market will remain open.
In September, WEHOonline reported on a rumored closure of same. Just two weeks later, pending a hearing for late night openings until 4am, the application for an extended hours permit was pulled by company.
An employee at the location told WEHOonlilne, “we are not allowed to talk about it.” An expected meeting early next week will disclose additional details of the closure, and relocation opportunities for the staff. Starbucks currently operates one more West Hollywood location at 8539 Sunset. Blvd.
Brian Nichol who took the helm at Starbucks in September 2024 is leading a turnaround of the company. The “Back to Starbucks” campaign will include the closing of about 1% of total stores in the U.S. and Canada.
If the free market were in place in west hollywood, and that includes no arbitrary minimum wage picked out of thin air, we would have more coffee shops, more employed people, more “community”. The Danny Hangs of the world think a commuter from Pacoima should be paid like $50 an hour to work in weho. It doesn’t take a genius to see why this happens here. Maybe a coffee preparer doesn’t deserve to make the same wage, or more money than an educated teacher.
THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS: personally I absolutely believe minimum wages must go up The 30k give or take residents ARE NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CITY OF WEST Hollywood TO ATTEMPT TO CHANGE MINIMUM WAGES We are paying the price heavily while the mega corporations were given an “E” ticket to showing retribution on their corporations by closing their otherwise profitable (starbucks) it now 2 in weho are closed a power over anyone other than the State of California tries to do the same. Politics is a game upon which all our livelihoods are mangled with. An Economist (if asked)… Read more »
It’s funny how some peeps out here comment on this closure and how some people don’t agree on paying employees $20.00, and benefits seem a disgrace. I guess they need machines to serve their bad attitudes and to accommodate their needs. Who knows for sure what runs in the corporate minds (aside from profits)? Some peeps forget that ordering online and using apps for a $ 7.99 coffee is a norm now. You don’t need to pay employees and a space to sustain a good customer experience. Wake up people – this is 2026. The world is changing. Most stores… Read more »
I can’t think of any national restaurant chains that operate in West Hollywood other than Coffee Bean and the one remaining Starbucks on Sunset Blvd. The problem isn’t with Starbucks, the problem is with West Hollywood city governance–and all residents pay the price. The smaller cafes are okay, but they are more expensive than Starbucks, with inconsistent and lower quality, and the wait is usually much longer.
Starbucks sold out the community. They made a fortune at the very profitable BIG GAY Starbucks next to Trader Joes for many years. However, as soon as the city and area were struggling during COVID instead of doubling down, renovating and adding security to this very important community hub, they just shut it down. This was of course only after cutting staff, allowing homeless to congregate with their stupid open door public restroom policy and letting the place deteriorate. I am sure one of the main reasons they are closing is because they don’t want the store to unionize. Good… Read more »
Pot Shops and Crappy Bars are all that West Hollywood deserves. No legitimate business wants to operate in this horrible environment.
As a customer of the Starbucks at Sunset and Hayworth, all of these closings have caused a longer wait at other locations like mine. This will finally drive me to purchase my own machine and save a ton of money so thank you Starbucks. I won’t miss giving you upwards of 8k year. I’ve been foolish and lazy I know.
Good old Weho is becoming a ghost town Sad
Its sad and the transients / homeless situation isnt improving. Imo they are getting more confrontational.
And yet we keep throwing more and more taxpayer dollars at the problem. Dollars that disappear in the billions.
Keep voting for democrats and that’s what happens
Actually the opposite, lots of new businesses have opened in WeHo. Good riddance to bland corporate chain Starbucks Coffee… because places like Drip & Dolce, Armonie Coffee & Sandwich, Miss Melbourne, and Fan Girl Cafe coffee are way better.
And let’s see how long they stay open
Yup. Bad policies bring bad results.
The mom and pop places are not sustainable business models in this city. Overheads costs are to high
A “ghost town?” HARDLY. We live at La Cienega & SM. We have three (soon 4) grocery stores within walking distance. There are numerous restaurants, bars, shops, even a hardware store that has literally everything (Koonz!). More places are opening soon, like Laurel Supply. We rarely need to leave SM Blvd, let alone WeHo. So yeah, not a ghost town.
The current CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol, is doing a great job- of running the company into the ground. I was once a daily customer, enjoying my jaunt down the blvd with pup to this location and the late gay Starbucks aka WeHo Beach. Saw Larry there more than once! Many kind staff at both locations. Seating reductions, relentless price increases, and continuous reward program devaluations (next major one 3.10.26) have turned me into an infrequent customer. All that being said, the soon to be sole freestanding WeHo location by Sunset Plaza has a good team as well, and the… Read more »
I live half a block away from this Starbucks; I haven’t patronized this store in years, it’s homeless crazy central. Good riddance.
The $20.25 minimum wage in WeHo, plus mandatory accrued vacation for even part time employees, makes it dumb to operate in WeHo.
I will say that everyone who actually hung out there had issues, just like at the big gay Starbucks that closed as well. It’s the last Starbucks I’d ever want to spend time at. If you go to Beverly Hills, or just about anywhere else, it’s cleaner, safer, and doesn’t have ridiculous labor laws. I will miss being able to pick up coffee at this location though.
True. I spend more and more of my dollars in Beverly Hills. It’s just a short walk away but worlds apart as far as cleanliness and lack of crazy drug addicts and mentally ill everywhere.
Safety and probably rent increasing 🙁 will now probably become a nail salon or smoke shop
Probably safety concerns! Lots of ongoing issues