Midtown Starbucks neighbors back up safety concerns But some worry closure of bustling co ee shop poses new issues in busy neighborhood

JAY DAVIS

Starbucks Corp.’s announcement this month that it would close its Midtown Detroit store over safety concerns was met with plenty of skepticism.

After all, it was a bustling co ee shop at a busy corner that is also home to a popular Whole Foods Market and high-priced lofts. e area is home to more than 250 businesses, including the Detroit Medical Center, Orchestra Hall and new luxury homes in Brush Park.

Starbucks spokesperson Sam Jefferies told Crain’s last week that the closure wasn’t related to one speci c incident.

“ ere are challenges seen in cities across America related to chronic homelessness, the mental health crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Je eries said. “We considered di erent options and had talks with local leaders to help prioritize security. We made every e ort to support this store in particular,” he added. “Unfortunately, our mitigation hasn’t worked.” e Detroit Police Department has reports of 133 incidents near the Starbucks store at Woodward and Mack avenues, according to a database of police crime reports dating to 2017. Incidents include disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, weapons possession, credit card fraud and obstructing police. It is unknown how many of those reports came directly from the Starbucks store, whose last day of business was Feb. 12. e incidents in the area and at the Starbucks store led a neighboring business to enact stronger security measures. e Great Expressions Dental ofce next door in recent months added a system that allows customers into the o ce only after a front desk sta er buzzes them in. An employee who agreed to be interviewed on the condition of anonymity, said that before the dental o ce installed the security system people who were not patients would enter to solicit patients for money. She told Crain’s on Tuesday that one person spit on a co ee station meant for customers. Another knelt down to drink water from a dispenser meant for customers.

Some customers, nearby businesses and police data support the co ee giant’s claim.

On Jan. 18, police responded to a call at the Starbucks store because of a person with a weapon, according to the database.

By comparison, at a similarly busy area at Michigan Avenue and Trumbull in Corktown, there were 104 reports of criminal activity, according to the database.

Detroit and Wayne State University police did not return calls seeking comment.

O cials with the neighboring Whole Foods Market declined several requests for comment over the last week and requests for comment from the grocer’s corporate media relations were not returned.

“ at Starbucks was our go-to spot,” the Great Expressions sta er said. “ ere were a lot of things that happened. ere was a man who was notorious for stealing online orders o the counter. He attacked a manager after he was asked to leave. ere was a security guard in the back, but he never did anything to stop the incidents.

“I’ll admit that it’s a lot quieter on this corner since the Starbucks closed. e thing people need to understand is that, yes, you can dress it up and call the area ‘Midtown,’ (but) it’s still downtown Detroit. ere’s a lot of tra c on this corner. We’re on the ground oor of a space at Woodward and Mack. e Woodward QLine stop is right outside. You have (the Detroit Medical Center) right here, and they release people all the time that they maybe shouldn’t. I think a lot of things played into the store closing.”

Jason Hall, who manages the Trek Bikes shop across from the nowclosed Midtown Starbucks, told Crain’s he’s seen some incidents at the co ee shop.

“ ere’s a di erent dynamic over there,” Hall, who co-founded the Slow Roll group bike ride. “Whenever I was in there, the volume of what

(sta ) had to deal with was a lot higher on the meter of violence.” ey could just go right across the street. I had friends who worked there. e company is giving them the opportunity to transfer to a di erent store, but it feels like a piece of the community leaves when a business closes.”

He said his store, which caters to specialty consumers, hasn’t encountered violent incidents.

He added that Starbucks’ closure isn’t good for the area.

“I don’t like it at all. I dislike the potential of an empty space being across the street from us,” Hall said. “Starbucks helped us out when people needed water or a quick snack.

Jason Basile, who works with the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority in the New Center area, stopped by the Midtown Starbucks store on Tuesday looking to get a drink. Basile, who said he frequented the co ee shop, was shocked to see it had closed. He said he never encountered any problems in his stops at co ee shop.

“I know people hawk things outside the store all the time, but I’ve never seen anything take place inside the store,” Basile said. “I’ve got to imagine the closure is painful for the area. It’s painful for me because I have to nd another place to get co ee.”

Midtown Inc. Executive Director Sue Mosey told Crain’s in an email Feb. 17 that Starbucks management worked to reduce incidents inside the store, but neither she nor Starbucks’ landlord, Peter Cummings and a group of investors, were made aware of serious issues at the store until news of the closure was made public.

“I am sure they have had issues like many publicly accessible type businesses in urban areas have with folks coming in who were not necessarily customers and just hang out,” Mosey said. “ is is a highly dense corner with a lot of pedestrian activity. I do know this location did a lot of business for the 15 years they were open. As you are aware, Starbucks has closed over 16 other urban locations ... I suspect this model just is not working for them anymore.”

— Crain’s Detroit Business Senior Reporter Kirk Pinho contributed to this report.

Contact: jason.davis@crain.com

(313) 446-1612; @JayDavis_1981