If you swung by the Esther Short Starbucks this past Friday expecting your usual drink, you were greeted instead by locked doors. After more than a decade fueling downtown Vancouver and the weekend Farmers Market crowds, the coffee chain pulled the plug on the location.
Employees say they were told on Thursday, September 25, that the store was closing that very day…no goodbye party, no last hurrah, just “thanks and good luck.” The closure was permanent.
The move comes amid ongoing accusations of union-busting against Starbucks, with critics pointing out the suspiciously high number of closures affecting organized stores. CEO Brian Niccol, already under fire for what many see as a bumbling tenure, is being blamed for the abrupt decision. “Unprofessional and cruel,” one employee called it, adding that the last-minute closure felt like “one last bizarre attempt to pull things back.”
But beyond the boardroom blame game, the community impact is real. The Esther Short Starbucks wasn’t simply a caffeine depot; it was a weekend anchor for Farmers Market vendors, a familiar spot for downtown regulars, and a genuinely beloved workplace.
As for where to get your coffee now? The baristas themselves recommend skipping the corporate chain altogether and heading to local spots like Kafiex Coffee Roasters, Terrain Coffee Project, LoRo Coffee, Brewed Cafe and Pub, or Carino Coffeehouse.