The Starbucks on Belleview and Yosemite, a favorite to many at Creek, closed on Oct. 13.
The coffee shop has been a steady presence on Belleview Square for many decades and its sudden closing has affected students, teachers, and admin.
“I’ve been going there for a long time…probably my entire life,” senior Elizabeth Lace said.
Activities Director Kelly Devitt considers the Starbucks a part of the community due to its many interactions with people from Creek.
“We love their baristas…they’ve always been supportive of our students even when they’ve struggled to behave properly there,” Devitt said. “I think it’s a huge loss. It’s somewhere that we as faculty members and staff like to go and take a break before games, before events, and I’m devastated about it.”
On Sept. 22, the store posted a notice outside the front door. The closing was unexpected for many, especially since the Starbucks was very popular in the shopping center.
As part of his research as a columnist for The Villager, English teacher Michael Mazenko spoke with the property manager of the Belleview location.
“It was her understanding that the lease was up and the parties were unable to come to an agreement,” Mazenko said.
Mazenko reached out to others who might have been involved, such as Greenwood Village city leaders and the Starbucks District Manager, but didn’t get any solid explanation for the closing. The store manager of the Belleview location declined an interview with the USJ.
