RITZVILLE, Wash. — You might have to drive a little farther for your next cup of coffee as Starbucks closes stores across the nation, including three locations in Spokane and a popular stop in Ritzville.
The closures are hitting small towns like Ritzville particularly hard. While big cities can absorb the loss of a major chain, for smaller communities, losing a Starbucks feels like losing a major investment.
Hundreds of drivers used to stop at the Ritzville Starbucks daily, making it an important community and economic staple.
“That Starbucks was an anchor. Truly an anchor,” said Kyle Niehenke of the Adams County Development Council.
More than 20 people lost their jobs due to the closure. Local coffee shops like Liberty Latte, located near I-90, are now facing the challenge of accommodating an influx of new customers.
“It was very sudden,” said Matthew Carlson, owner of Liberty Latte. “A lot of discussion started happening really quickly about what we were going to have to do.”
Carlson said his shop’s average wait time for drinks is about five to six minutes, but they are doing their best to meet demand.
Niehenke also criticized Starbucks corporate for withdrawing support from the small community overnight with little assistance.
“For Starbucks corporate, it seems a bit disingenuous, like ‘We’re going to invest here in your small community, and then we’re going to pull the plug on your small community overnight with almost no resources to counter that,'” Niehenke said.
As the town grapples with the change, residents and local business leaders alike are worried about the future without this key stop.
“This was a measurable amount of sales tax revenue. People bought gas. They stopped here for a reason. And with that reason gone, that’s going to have a lasting effect on both Ritzville and Adams County,” Niehenke said.
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