Since the start of the boycott movement due to the Israel-Palestine conflict, several international brands in Malaysia have seen their profits suffer a huge decline, with Starbucks bearing the brunt of it.
As such, it has led to the closure of multiple outlets across the country, with the latest being the last remaining outlet in Kelantan.
Last Starbucks outlet in Kelantan closes down
According to a report by Sin Chew Daily, the outlet was located in KB Mall in Kota Bahru and bade its final farewell to the public yesterday (Nov 30).
Aside from this outlet, two other outlets located at nearby commercial areas had shut down earlier, effectively bringing the number of Starbucks stores in Kelantan to zero.
The process of the outlet closing down was documented by award-winning photographer and self-proclaimed Starbucks coffee enthusiast Lee Chin Chuan, who had recently won the “AsiaWPA 2023 Photographer of the Year” award.
Speaking to the Chinese daily, Lee said the Starbucks outlet in KB Mall had already stopped serving coffee.
“I believe they grounded the last of their coffee beans and customers could only order non-coffee beverages.
“Furthermore, the severe flooding in Kelantan left many displaced overnight. Among those affected were Starbucks employees, some of whom chose to resign rather than be transferred to outlets at other states,” he said.
Lee added that the most emotional part of documenting the outlet’s closure was watching the employees write their resignation letters.
“Nevertheless, I wish them all the best for the future. Perhaps the experience they’ve gained here will help them excel and shine in their next workplace.”
Sin Chew Daily also reported that a total of 50 Starbucks outlets have closed across Malaysia in September, an increase from the previous figure of 25 at the end of June.
Watch Lee’s video of the outlet closing its doors for good here:
Read more about Starbucks’ financial woes here:
