Some corporate roles in Seattle are expected to relocate to the new Nashville hub.
SEATTLE — Seattle is tied to 252 layoffs after Starbucks announced last week it would trim several hundred corporate positions as part of a larger restructuring process.
Washington’s Employment Security Department issued a notice Monday stating the layoffs will begin in mid-July, with all separations expected to conclude by early February.
The positions are tied to Starbucks’ support center in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood and involve corporate roles not affiliated with any union or labor organization. Starbucks clarified the figure includes remote employees from across the country who report to managers in Seattle and are therefore administratively tied to the headquarters.
Starbucks closed one of its flagship Reserve Roasteries at the corporate offices in October.
The building, which underwent a remodel in 2025, has been owned by First & Utah Properties since 1990, when the complex was acquired from Sears, which constructed what would become the coffee giant’s headquarters in the early 20th century.
City records show architect George C. Nimmons designed one of the two buildings that became the campus known today, including the complex’s iconic tower.
Last week, Starbucks announced it would lay off about 300 employees and close three satellite offices as it looks for cost savings as part of efforts to bolster the company.
Jaci Anderson, Starbucks director of global communications, said the impacted roles outside Seattle are primarily remote jobs.
The company will retain offices in New York City and Nashville, which Starbucks announced in April will house 2,000 jobs.
Some corporate roles in Seattle are expected to relocate to the new Nashville hub, though Anderson said the layoffs announced Friday are completely separate from that transition.
Starbucks said it will next examine its international support organization and expects additional layoffs in that area, though a specific timeline and number of jobs has not been determined.
The changes are expected to result in $400 million in restructuring charges, including $120 million in employee separation benefits. Starbucks also anticipates $280 million in non-cash charges tied to impairment of long-lived assets, such as right-of-use lease assets.
Anderson said the changes come on the heels of a “significant” quarter for Starbucks. During an April 28 earnings call, CEO Brian Niccol said second-quarter company revenue reached $9.5 billion, up 8% from the previous year.
“It really is about making sure that momentum continues,” Anderson said. “We are returning the company to becoming durable and profitable company.”
On May 8, Starbucks also announced 61 layoffs, primarily in technical fields. Those layoffs are in addition to those previously cut positions.
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