Starbucks May Shut Down Stores in Face of Coronavirus, Move to Mobile Orders

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson has announced that the coffee chain may shut down some of its stores due to the coronavirus and move to mobile ordering.

In some cases customers will be able to use the drive through, get delivery via Uber Eats or pick-up using the Starbuck app depending on the situation around each store.

As a last resort stores would be closed entirely.

Via Daily Mail:

“The Seattle-based coffee chain is currently maintaining regular operations across the US and Canada, but in a letter shared on the Starbucks website, Johnson said they are prepared ‘to modify operations with options that still allow us to serve you your favorite beverage and food’.

Johnson said that the customer experience ‘may look different as we navigate through this time together’.

‘This means that as we navigate this dynamic situation community-by-community and store-by-store, we may adapt the store experience by limiting seating to improve social distancing, enable mobile order-only scenarios for pickup via the Starbucks App or delivery via Uber Eats, or in some cases only the Drive Thru will be open,’ Johnson said in the letter.

Johnson said as a last resort Starbucks leadership will ‘close a store if we feel it is in the best interest of our customers and partners, or if we are directed to do so by government authorities’.

‘In any such situation, we expect store disruption to be temporary,’ he added.”

While this is a smart move by the coffee chain the weak link in this system is the baristas.

What if one of the people making coffee drinks has the virus but does not yet show symptoms?

One barista could infect a lot of people.

Better if you are in the most vulnerable population to make your own coffee and food until there is an effective treatment or vaccine for this virus, than to take an unnecessary risk.

After all is a latte or blended coffee drink or iced coffee really that important?