Starbucks in Red Oak slated to close

JOEY DAUBEN

RED OAK – If only cars ran on lattes.

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee announced they were closing 600 stores across the country – Red Oak being the only Ellis County store set for closing - because of economic conditions and a rapid-expansion program that some analysts said contributed to an over-saturation in some markets.

Starbucks, famous for their $3 and $4 cups of coffee, will also close stores in DeSoto and Duncanville.

Red Oak city leaders were aiming for the Ovilla Road/Interstate Highway 35 section of town to spruce up a large economic renaissance, and many touted the Starbucks when it first opened almost a year ago.

When contacted, employees at the coffee shop were not informed of the actual closing date.

"Starbucks will close approximately 600 company-operated stores in the U.S. beginning this month and continuing through the first half of [Fiscal Year 2009]," the Seattle-based company said. 

"Partners in the stores listed below have been personally notified that their store has been slated to close during this time-frame."

Currently, there are three Starbucks locations left in Ellis County: Ennis, Waxahachie and Midlothian.

There are no plans, according to the company, to shut those stores down.