A New Orleans Starbucks location closed its doors after the city was recognized as the murder capital of the nation.
Sam Jeffries, a spokesperson for Starbucks, told WWL-TV in New Orleans that the the popular coffee chain location on Canal Street was determined to be a "high incident store."
"Our stores are windows into America, and every day, our partners witness the challenges facing our communities – challenges to personal safety and security, racism, a growing mental health crisis, and issues magnified by COVID. These challenges play out within our stores – affecting our partners, our communities, and our customers alike," Jeffries said.
The closure of the store comes as New Orleans has faced an increase in the number of homicides, making it the murder capital of the U.S. According to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), homicides have risen in a number of U.S. cities, including New Orleans, over the past year.
In addition to data from the MCCA, the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission reported a rise in homicides.
"Homicides are now up 44% compared with 2021," the commission said in a crime data report ending on September 18. It also said in a previous report that as of September 11, the city had at least 205 homicides, which is "an increase of 141% compared with 2019 and 46% compared with last year to date."
According to an analysis of data from the Wall Street Journal, New Orleans has the highest homicide of any city in the U.S. The Journal's analysis found that there are 41 homicides per 100,000 residents in the city.
Prior to the closure of the shop, Starbucks sent out a letter to store owners discussing safety.
"You've been open and honest with us about your experience – from what you need to feel your best at work, to the many inspirational and heartfelt examples of how you are creating memorable moments for one another and our customers," the letter said.
"With stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too. We read every incident report you file – it's a lot."
The letter went on to detail a number of new directives Starbucks was implementing to ensure the safety of employees, such as "robust safety training," "modifying operations," like closing restrooms, and benefits to support employees' mental health.
Newsweek reached out to Starbucks for further comment.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
