A look inside the shuttered Starbucks on Astor Place

We're nearly at the one-month anniversary of the Astor Place Starbucks shutting down. 

In some ways, it already seems like longer...

The brown paper covering the front windows has been falling down, offering a view inside... which looks surprisingly intact... the Starbucks signage from outside is also lying across the floor... 

The retail listing for the space has yet to show up online anywhere. (Let us know if you see it!) 

--Updated: Thanks to the commenter for this PDF listing. The commenter says the rent ask is $2 million a year.--

This location, the 11th SB in the city, opened in March 1995. 

According to store management, "the landlords jacked up the rent so astronomically high that even corporate Starbucks couldn't pay it." According to landlord ASG Equities, they offered Starbucks a lease extension at the same rent, but SB declined. According to some commenters and observers, Starbucks shut it down because this outpost voted to unionize in 2022. 

Meanwhile, there might be a big Starbucks dumpster party here one of these days.

Before (and after) Starbucks on Astor Place

Here are a few quick follow-up items after our scoop about Starbucks closing on Astor Place (here and here) after nearly 30 years...

1. The Astor Place Starbucks opened on March 30, 1995, marking the brand's 11th outpost in NYC.

Before SB, the space outside the downtown 6 at Lafayette was home to the Astor Riviera Cafe. (Above photo via Yesterdays-Paper. There's a nighttime shot here.). 

The 24/7 Riviera was open from 1979 until 1994. 

In noting its closure in July 1994, The New York Times asked in its headline: "Out of the Shadows, a Less-Funky Future for Astor Place?" (Cooper Square Books had closed a month earlier at 13-25 Astor Place.) 

Jeremiah Moss discussed all this back in 2009.

2. Discussions about the SB closing prompted comments like, "I wish we had a diner again around here."

As a reminder, the diner-like Famous Cozy Soup 'n' Burger, which opened in 1972, is at the western end of Astor Place at 739 Broadway. 

3. Several people suggested the Blue Bottle Coffee at 2 Astor Place for SB alternatives. Well, BBC closed in late 2021... and Felix Roasting Co., which took over the space, closed earlier this summer. (The above photo is from a few weeks ago — there's now a for-rent sign in the window.) Felix has three other NYC locations still in service.

Farewell to the Astor Place Starbucks, now officially closed

Updated with a comment from Starbucks HQ below...

Updated 4:30 p.m.: Through a spokesperson, ASG Equities, the landlord at 21 Astor, said that they offered Starbucks a lease extension at exactly the same rent:

ASG is appreciative of Starbucks' decades-long tenancy at 21 Astor.  We are sad they chose to leave, even as we offered a lease extension that would have allowed them to remain in their existing space at the exact same rent. This corner on top of the Astor Place subway has extensive glass frontage, tremendous signage, and incredible foot traffic. We are quite confident that this space will be of interest to a wide range of community-oriented retailers.

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In case you missed our scoop from yesterday... the Starbucks on Astor Place closed after service last evening.

By early this morning, workers had removed the Starbucks signage and papered over the windows of this retail space they've been in for nearly 30 years. 

As of 7 a.m., there was no note to potential patrons about a closure or where to find the nearest Starbucks. 

On Saturday, a manager told EVG's Stacie Joy that "the landlords jacked up the rent so astronomically high that even corporate Starbucks couldn't pay it." The manager said that all employees were offered relocation options with other Starbucks. (We also contacted the Starbucks HQ in Seattle for comment.)

This outpost was the 11th Starbucks to open in the city. The spacious 4,000-square-foot SB debuted on March 30, 1995 — a year before the Kmart arrived across Eighth Street. Other key dates in this SB's history: it underwent a major renovation in 2018 ... and unionized in 2022. (The North 7th Street unionized location in Williamsburg closed earlier this summer. We contacted the Starbucks Workers United union as well.)

Regardless of your thoughts about the brand, many people seemed to have a story about this prime people-watching outpost.

While there are ample available storefronts in the immediate area, we'd think that a brand entering the NYC market would want to snap up this high-profile location ... like Raising Cane's, which looks to be doing well since opening last September in the former Walgreens on the opposite corner. 

Updated 11:15 a.m. 

A statement from a spokesperson at Starbucks:

Effective July 29, 2024, our Lafayette & 8th St store, also known as Astor Place, in Manhattan will close permanently. We have engaged Workers United to collaborate on the next steps, including transfer options, for the 17 partners currently employed at this location.​

As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers. We do not take the decision to close stores lightly. Our relationship with our customers is deeply personal, and we are honored to have been on Astor Place. ​

We hope our customers will use the Starbucks Store Locator to find other nearby locations. 

The closest stores include​: 

• Broadway & Bond – 665 Broadway 

• ​ NYU 4th & Washington Sq E – 45 West 4th St.

•​ 15th & 3rd – 145 3rd Ave.

Scoop: After nearly 30 years, Starbucks is closing its Astor Place location

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Photos from yesterday

Updated 7/29: See the end of the post for a statement from Starbucks HQ. The SB sign has also been removed from the retail space. Photo here.

Updated: Through a spokesperson, ASG Equities, the landlord at 21 Astor, said that they offered Starbucks a lease extension at exactly the same rent:

“ASG is appreciative of Starbucks’ decades-long tenancy at 21 Astor.  We are sad they chose to leave, even as we offered a lease extension that would have allowed them to remain in their existing space at the exact same rent. This corner on top of the Astor Place subway has extensive glass frontage, tremendous signage, and incredible foot traffic. We are quite confident that this space will be of interest to a wide range of community-oriented retailers.”

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Starbucks on Astor Place will close its doors for good after service today, ending nearly 30 years here outside the entrance to the downtown 6 at Lafayette. (H/T to the tipster who first shared this development.)

According to management, "the landlords jacked up the rent so astronomically high that even corporate Starbucks couldn't pay it." The manager said that all employees were offered relocation options with other Starbucks. (We also contacted the Starbucks HQ in Seattle for comment.)

The manager went on to say that he would miss this location's regulars and being part of their day. 

As of yesterday, the Astor Place shop had already scrubbed the brand's NYC location map...

This outpost was the 11th Starbucks to open in the city. The spacious 4,000-square-foot SB debuted on March 30, 1995 — a year before the Kmart arrived across Eighth Street. Other key dates in this SB's history: it underwent a major renovation in 2018 ... and unionized in 2022.

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--Updated--

Starbucks closed its unionized location on North 7th Street location in Williamsburg on June 30, per Greenpointers.

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With its floor-to-ceiling windows lined with high stools, the outpost was popular for its ample people-watching opportunities ... as well as convenient public restrooms. (Before the 2018 renovations, a one-star Yelp review from here noted: "The bathrooms look like they run a cockfighting ring out of them.")

Despite this closure, Starbucks still has smaller outlets on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place, First Avenue at Third Street, and First Avenue at 13th Street (not to mention locations on Union Square and University Place). 

Once upon a time, there were two Starbucks on Astor Place (plus one at Broadway and Ninth Street that shuttered in 2019)... the one at 51 Astor Place closed in 2009 and was replaced by the New York Film Academy Café. That iteration of the address was demolished in 2011 to make way for the Death Star.

Updated 7/29

A statement from a spokesperson at Starbucks:

Effective July 29, 2024, our Lafayette & 8th St store, also known as Astor Place, in Manhattan will close permanently. We have engaged Workers United to collaborate on the next steps, including transfer options, for the 17 partners currently employed at this location.​

As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers. We do not take the decision to close stores lightly. Our relationship with our customers is deeply personal, and we are honored to have been on Astor Place. ​

We hope our customers will use the Starbucks Store Locator to find other nearby locations. 

The closest stores include​: 

• Broadway & Bond – 665 Broadway 

• ​NYU 4th & Washington Sq E – 45 West 4th St.

•​15th & 3rd – 145 3rd Ave.

Please explain

Photo by Stacie Joy 

As seen at the Orchard Alley Community Garden on Fourth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D: 

Welcome Starbucks to Orchard Alley!

A reader asked about this. We do not know! A joke? An inside joke? A commentary about the community garden?

Starbucks is not in expansion mode anyway. Since early 2020, Starbucks has permanently closed 44 of its 235 locations in Manhattan, per The New York Times.

Report: Workers at the Starbucks on Astor Place vote to unionize

The Starbucks on Astor Place became the second NYC outpost to unionize, according to press reports and several media advisories. 

The workers voted Friday in favor of a union by an 11-2 count. The Reserve Roastery in Chelsea voted to unionize in early April.

So not only a blowout win in NYC, but another downstate store filed today as well!! Welcome Farmingville!

Working at an understaffed SB next to a CityMD during a pandemic...uhhh, workers deserve better. #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/zSc4XnEFSg

— SBWorkersUnited (@SBWorkersUnited) April 29, 2022

According to Nation's Restaurant News: 

In just four and a half months, Starbucks went from having zero union presence to employees voting to unionize at 32 stores around the country, with dozens of unionization elections occurring weekly.

And... 

Throughout this process, there has been growing tensions between the Starbucks corporation — which has made it clear that direct representation is preferable and that the unions have been disruptive — and union group SBWorkers United, which has accused its parent company of union-busting.

Starbucks reduces its hours on Avenue A

Not sure what's going on with the Starbucks on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place... this outpost is now closed on Sundays (seems like a pretty good day for a coffee shop to be open?)

In early July, they changed the hours, moving up the closing time from 6 p.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays ...

Back in May, this location was closed for several weeks without any explanation to customers. 

Starbucks opened at this spot in August 2017.

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

The Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place will be 'opening soon'

Updated: Reopened as of May 17. The Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place remains closed (10 to 14 days now?)... however, there is an addition to the "temporarily closed" signage... a handwritten note with a smiley face stating "opening soon" ...

Starbucks opened at this spot in August 2017.

The Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place has not been open lately

Updated: Reopened as of May 17.

Observers say that the Starbucks location on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place has not been open for the past 7-10 days. 

Signs on the door simply note, "Our store is temporarily closed," with instructions to visit the nearest Starbucks. Calls to this branch result in an outgoing message stating, "your call cannot be completed at this time." 

While two neighborhood Starbucks outposts have closed in recent years (Second Avenue at Ninth Street, Broadway at Ninth Street), this isn't believed to be a permanent shutter. This location has been closed from time to time, like in July 2019 for an electrical issue.

Starbucks opened at this spot in August 2017.

The previous tenant, Nino's, had to close on Oct. 21, 2015, due to a gas leak in the building. On Nov. 17 of that year, Nino's received an eviction notice. Owner Nino Camaj had said that the gas was shut off in the building without any notice to him.

In late November 2015, Camaj's lawyers were reportedly talking with landlord Citi Urban Management to dispute the rent charged for the month during which they weren't open due to the gas leak. Camaj still had 10 years left on his lease and had been in court with the landlords.

He accepted a buyout in February 2016, after having been closed for nearly five months. Camaj told DNAinfo that he could no longer afford the $14,500 monthly rent. 

Photo by Steven!

Starbucks on Astor Place hit again; arrests reported nearby

For the second night, people smashed the windows at the Starbucks on Astor Place... here's a look at the space this morning...



The Foot Locker around the corner on Broadway was reportedly looted, which explains the empty Nike boxes spotted here...



People also broke windows at nearby Astor Place businesses, including the FedEx store, Sweetgreen and Blue Bottle Coffee.

Overall, ABC 7 described it as "a quiet night in New York City, with looters largely absent."

The NYPD used several tactics overnight to crack down on the looting that has plagued the city in recent nights, including arresting non-protesting groups of people after the 8 p.m. curfew went into effect.

If police approached those groups, officials say, many tried to run. Police say they found items like bats and hammers on those they arrested.

The NYPD is reporting 280 arrests.

And some of those arrests occurred on Astor Place and St. Mark's Place, as the NYPD rounded up protestors, and people using the protests as cover, out past the designated 8 p.m. curfew, which is in effect through Sunday. Journalist Bucky Turco reported what he saw via Twitter...

Astor Place Starbucks pic.twitter.com/sAgYxth0nS

— Bucky Turco (@buckyturco) June 3, 2020

Police move in to make arrests on Bowery/St. Mark’s-Astor Place, beat protester with their night sticks. pic.twitter.com/8rilIYV31p

— Bucky Turco (@buckyturco) June 3, 2020

During a short walk through the neighborhood this morning, we didn't spot any signs of break ins or damaged storefronts ... outside of the AP Starbucks...

Reopenings: Emmy Squared, Swift Hibernian Lounge, Tacos Cholula, Starbucks on 1st Avenue

Emmy Squared returns to service today on First Avenue at Fifth Street for delivery and takeout... they set up the front window for easy pick ups... they are open today through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. ... Emmy Squared will be back then on Wednesday...



... also back for another weekend... Swift Hibernian Lounge is open over on Fourth Street between the Bowery and Lafayette ...



...they're serving food and drinks to take home from 2 to sundown...



And from the EVG tipline: the Tacos Cholula cart returned earlier this week on Avenue A at Second Street...



Also from the tipline: Starbucks reopened Monday on First Avenue at Third Street...

The Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place reopens today

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The neighbor's Starbucks locations have been closed since around March 20. Now, however, the outpost on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place reopens this morning (March 30) only for mobile ordering via the Starbucks app or delivery via Uber Eats.

The hours: Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a 7 a.m. open on Saturday and Sunday.

According to a rep, the St. Mark's outpost will be the only Starbucks location open in all of lower Manhattan as of now.

[Updated] The Bean is taking over the former Starbucks space on 9th and Broadway

The Bean is continuing its local expansion... signage is up on the northwest corner of Broadway and Ninth Street for another outpost of the coffee shop...



This is a bit of a role reversal too, as a local cafe takes over a space previously held by a Starbucks.

The Starbucks stopped here back in January ... after a conversion from the Starbucks-owned Teavana in 2016. (This corner space previously housed Silver Spurs, the diner that closed in December 2013 after 34 years in business.)

In the fall of 2011, Starbucks moved into the the Bean's flagship cafe at First Avenue and Third Street. The Bean had been on a month-to-month lease there, and the landlord gave them a 30-day notice to leave late in August 2011.


[EVG photo from 2011]

As for the Bean, they opened a new location at 31 Third Ave. at Stuyvesant Street (the former St. Mark's Bookshop) in 2017.

Updated

Per the comments, the Bean is relocating here from the 12th Street and Broadway location...


[Photo by Steven]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Today's sign of the apocalypse: Starbucks taking over The Bean's space on First Avenue and Third Street

Halloween evening at Starbucks on Avenue A

"No candy! :(

Sorry!"

One reader said they were giving away free hot chocolate to kids earlier in the afternoon. Still, the appearance of the no-candy sign gave the appearance of a neighbor who didn't care. Other businesses along Avenue A and the side streets were distributing candy and other Halloween treats.

Photo by Steven

Have they tried downloading and installing the uninstall support tool?

--

Updated 8/24: This location reopened today, Saturday.

--

From the tipline today... reports that the Starbucks on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place is TEMPORARILY closed. (Word is a problem with the AC.)

On the door is the familiar sign that has greeted potential patrons previously this summer: "Something went wrong..."



EVG reader Simon Dumenco has a theory about this now-familiar existential note in the window. "Maybe it’s a feature, not a bug? Starbucks is just trying to tell its resident laptop jockeys to take a break and get some fresh air and sunshine now and then?"

Thanks to Steven for these photos!

[Updated] The Starbucks on Astor Place is closed for the moment

[Photos by Steven]

Multiple readers have pointed out that the Starbucks outpost on Astor Place is currently closed...



Several workers were spotted inside... Per EVG correspondent Steven: "There is plastic over the coffee machines. They are moving inventory to the side."

Another reader said that there was some sort of leak.

In any event, the official "store closed" sign is a lot more boring than the ones used during the brief closure at the Avenue A/St. Mark's Place location.

Updated 7/28 — This location is back open.

The plot thickens with cliffhanger signage at Starbucks on Avenue A

After a brief closure for electrical issues on Friday, the Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place closed again late yesterday... with a mysterious note greeting potential customers — "Something went wrong..."



The sign is just begging for an ending.

An EVG reader reports that workers are inside this morning... and it appeared they would be opening. Or not.

H/T to EVG reader Toni Pole!

Shocker: Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place closed 'due to electrical issues'

Updated: 7/13: They are back open.

The Starbucks outpost on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place is closed for the moment... signage points to an electrical issue...



Meanwhile, in non-electrical news, Starbucks will no longer sell copies of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal or USA Today at its stores nationwide starting in September, per the Post.

Updated 7/13

CLOSED AGAIN!





Thanks to Steven for the photos!

The Starbucks on 2nd Avenue at 9th Street has closed (a day early)

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

As previously reported, the Starbucks outpost on Second Avenue at Ninth Street was set to close yesterday.

However, the closing came a day early... the April 15 was changed to an April 14...



There wasn't any official word why this location closed.

This retail space remains on the rental market — the rent is "negotiable."

The Starbucks on 2nd Avenue and 9th Street closes on Monday

Store closing signs are now up at the Starbucks at 145 Second Ave. (Thanks to Steven for the photos and tip!)

Per the signage, this outpost closes on Monday here on the northwest corner at Ninth Street...



This was expected, as the storefront was recently listed for rent. (Price is "negotiable.")

No word on why this location is closing.

Last June, Starbucks announced that it would close 150 "poorly performing company-operated stores" in 2019, "mostly [in] urban areas that are densely populated with Starbucks locations," as CNN reported.

This makes the second local Starbucks in recents months to shutter. The outpost on Broadway at Ninth Street closed in early January.

Other EV Starbucks are located on First Avenue at 13th Street, First Avenue at Third Street and Avenue A at St. Mark's Place. The 23-year-old location on Astor Place received a major interior renovation last fall.

Previously on EV Grieve:
145 2nd Ave., currently a Starbucks, is for lease