Starbucks closes in Portsmouth's Market Square after 25 years: 'Sad they're leaving'
PORTSMOUTH — Twenty-five years after arriving in the heart of the city, Starbucks has closed the doors to its Market Square storefront.
The national chain’s downtown location, a mainstay since opening in 1999, has served its last hot beverages, fruity refreshers and pastries in Portsmouth. The coffee behemoth confirmed Sunday, May 19 was the final day.
“As part of Starbucks standard course of business, we continually evaluate our business to ensure a healthy store portfolio,” the company’s media relations team said in a statement to Seacoastonline Monday. “After careful consideration, we’ve determined it is best to close the store at 1 Market Street in Portsmouth, NH.”
Starbucks did not disclose a reason.
“We are proud to have been part of the Portsmouth community at this location and look forward to serving our customers at our nearby locations,” the statement added.
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Every employee of the downtown Starbucks is eligible to transfer to another nearby location, according to the company. In the days prior to ending operations, employees of the downtown location, positioned at the corner of Congress Street and High Street, told customers the establishment would be closing on Sunday.
Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Seattle, Starbucks is the world’s largest coffeehouse chain. There are two remaining locations in Portsmouth, on Lafayette Road and Woodbury Avenue, and more throughout the greater Seacoast, including in Dover, Greenland, Rochester, Seabrook Somersworth and Stratham.
Portsmouth still has a plethora of coffee brewers downtown. Several homegrown coffee shops are within walking distance of the now-closed Starbucks spot downtown, including Cup of Joe Cafe & Bar, Kaffee Vonsolln, Stroll Cafe & Wine Bar, Caffe Kilim and Port City Coffee Roasters, among others.
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Leonard Seagren, a former owner of Federal Cigar, owns the Congress Street retail space and leased to Starbucks for years. His preferred Starbucks coffee? French Roast, which Seagren said he’s served at home and at his church for 20 years.
“They have been a wonderful partner in my relationship with the world,” he said Monday. “I’m in a way sad that they’re leaving but I don't know why and that’s up to them to decide. They’ve been a fabulous tenant and I love them dearly.”
A retail business will replace Starbucks in the downtown commercial unit this summer, Seagren said, but he declined to identify the future occupant.
“I think they’re a delightful company and they're going to add a great deal to Portsmouth’s retail spaces,” Seagren said.
Starbucks is the latest longtime downtown coffee shop to close down. Breaking New Grounds operated at 14 Market Square, currently occupied by Tuscan Brand-owned Napoletana Pizza and Bar, for 15 years before closing in January 2019. Breaking New Grounds was preceded in the same space by Café Brioche, another longstanding coffeehouse that was open for two decades before its closure in January 2004.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Starbucks closes in Portsmouth's Market Square after 25 years
