College Hill now houses one fewer option for those needing a caffeine fix.
Just over a week ago, Brunonians craving a pumpkin spice latte or looking to satisfy a sweet tooth with a pink drink were met with an abrupt warning: The Starbucks location at 218 Thayer St. was about to shut its doors, according to a notice posted outside the store.
“We’re deeply grateful for the community that’s been built here,” read the notice, which was signed by the “The Starbucks Coffee Company.”
“Our commitment to creating welcoming, memorable experiences remains unchanged,” the notice continued. “We hope you’ll visit us at a nearby Starbucks where we’d be honored to continue sharing moments with you.”
By Sept. 28, the windows were covered with brown paper as the Seattle-based chain officially said goodbye to Thayer Street.
This particular location had been in operation since before 2000, only closing briefly in 2022 for renovations, The Herald previously reported.
In a Sept. 25 statement, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol wrote that in the 2025 fiscal year, the company plans to close about 1% of its stores across North America as part of the “Back to Starbucks” initiative.
“We identified coffeehouses where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance,” Niccol wrote in the statement.
The Thayer Street location seems to be the only Rhode Island location impacted by the closures, according to Newsweek. There are around 30 remaining locations in the state, including one near Wayland Square and another downtown.
Mya Reynolds ’28 said she was taken aback by the “last-minute” nature of the closure. The coffee chain had often provided a “little morning treat for my 9 a.m.,” she added.
Ari Dev Rangarajan ’25.5 recalled being “bummed” on hearing of the closure, saying that he would miss the cafe’s “really nice energy.”
But students also expressed excitement about what establishment might next occupy the building.
Rangarajan referenced a number of bars that used to be open on Thayer Street in the early 2000s and 2010s, such as Liquid Lounge and Kartabar.
“I’d like a bar on Thayer, preferably with nice pool tables and maybe some cool, funky music,” Rangarajan said. “I want my draft beer back.”
Gideon Buddenhagen ’26, a barista at the Underground Coffee Company, said he was “indifferent” about the closing. He hopes that the departure might “bring a few people who are usual Starbucks customers to come to the Underground” instead.
“It’s a cool opportunity for a less dominant chain” to move in and “get a chance to be part of the Providence community,” Buddenhagen added.
Starbucks did not respond to a request for comment.
