A city in New Jersey is losing its only Starbucks: ‘It’s sad for Trenton’

TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) — Businesses come and go, but saying goodbye brings pain for Benjamin Young, a barista at Trenton’s only Starbucks.

“It’s sad for Trenton,” said Young. “I just had somebody walk up and talk to me. They were like, ‘Yo, we heard they was closing.’ I was like, ‘yeah, it’s closing,’ and they were like, ‘Yo, it’s going to mess us up.'”

You’re saying it wrong: New York City street names

When it opened in 2017, Starbucks launched it as a community store, designed to bring jobs to underserved communities and give youth their first shot in the workforce.

At the end of the month, it’s set to close for good.

“Everybody, they come here, they know us,” said Young. “It’s more personable here. Everybody talks to us, everybody vibes with us, so to see it all go, like I said, it would be a headache, it would be heartbreak.”

“I feel like Trenton is thriving right now and it’s just a big impact as far as them closing,” said Deonna Maldonado, co-owner of nearby Skil-Lit Cafe.

“They would always allow us to use the bathroom, they would always give out cake pops, they would give out drinks, and just the courtesy of them is going to be missed,” said customer Aleea Johnson, “and the location, because it’s the only one in Trenton.”

Bryan Evans is the Chair of the Trenton Downtown Association and says when Starbucks came in, small businesses opened up – and thrived.

“I call it the Starbucks effect,” said Evans. “A lot of people want to be here because Starbucks is here. I think it’s critical that they stay and I hope that they change their minds.”

Starbucks would not give us any specifics behind the reason for the closure but said baristas impacted will have the option to work for other Starbucks locations in the area.

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora says Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Governor Phil Murphy, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker are all pushing to keep the store open. Gusciora spoke to us shortly after what he says was a productive meeting with Starbucks officials.

“We’re hopeful that we can get an extension of the closure and see how we can all work together from here on out,” said Gusciora.

As for Young, he also works right across the street at Skil-Lit Cafe, so even if Trenton loses Starbucks, it won’t lose his smile.

“I’m a barista here, I’m a host at Skil-Lit, so I’ll still make my impact as much as I can,” said Young.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.