NEW ROCHELLE, NY (September 29, 2025) — In what is sure to be a shock to many North End residents — and generations of Ursuline students — Starbucks has closed its Wykagyl location at 1278-80 North Avenue.
I spoke to people from other businesses next door. The store was shuttered on Saturday. A note addressed to “our amazing customers”:
We’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close this Starbucks location. We know this may be hard to hear – because this isn’t just any store. It’s your coffeehouse, a place woven into your daily rhythm, where memories were made, and where meaningful connections with our partners grew over the years. We’re deeply grateful for the community that’s been built here.
We know many of you will be thinking of your favorite partner, and we’re working closely to support our partners through this transition. Our commitment to creating welcoming, memorable experiences remains unchanged. We hope you’ll visit us at a nearby Starbucks where we’d be honored to continue sharing moments with you.
Thank you for being part of our story. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The Starbucks Coffee Company
The company is expected to close approximately 400 corporate stores across the United States and Canada by the end of its 2025 fiscal year, as part of a $1 billion restructuring plan. Also closed is the Bronxville location at 29 Park Place.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol stated the closures target underperforming locations “where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance.” The company’s broader “Back to Starbucks” strategy aims to reinvest in store operations, improve customer experience, and modernize over 1,000 locations. Alongside store closures, Starbucks is laying off 900 non-retail corporate employees, offering transfers to store employees where possible and severance packages for those who cannot be placed.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.