Starbucks will give salaried workers only a tiny pay increase. Add that to the long list of mistakes made by CEO Brian Niccol.

When Starbucks Corp. tapped Brian Niccol as chief executive officer in 2024, it cited the “critical need for a transformative leader” in justifying the hire. If performance significantly improves, the corner-office switch could cost the company $130 million.

Niccol said Starbucks was founded on customer experience, and wants to return the brand to a position of excellence.

The move will impact approximately 80-90 Starbucks "Pick Up" stores across more than 20 states, including locations in Illinois. Some spots are facing permanent closure while others will be converted into traditional coffeehouses at a later date, according to Niccol and the chain's website.

Starbucks announced that it's shuttering an entire line of stores in 2026. See which Ohio locations are on the chopping block.

Starbucks Corporation SBUX continues to face pressure in its core U.S. market, where comparable sales slipped 2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Management is clear that turning around domestic performance will require more than operational fixes,

In the midst of a headline-grabbing turnaround effort, the coffee boss insisted that things are moving faster than expected. Investors appear to agree.

Starbucks shares climbed in extended trading Tuesday, as CEO Brian Niccol said the company is "ahead of schedule" on its turnaround effort.

Starbucks' ultimate goal, its CEO says, is to return a community coffeehouse vibe to the world's largest coffee shop chain.