Starbucks closing South Hill store

Starbucks is closing one of its South Hill stores later this month.

The Seattle-based coffee chain announced Friday it is shuttering a store at 2525 E. 29th Ave., citing the decision behind the closure was to “ensure a healthy store portfolio.”

The store’s last day of operation is Feb. 23.

“As difficult as this is, we must make the right business decisions for the sake of Starbucks’ long-term growth,” a company spokesperson said in an email. “We are proud to have been part of the Spokane community and look forward to serving our customers at our nearby locations.”

Starbucks has no plans to close additional stores in Spokane, according to the company spokesperson.

Employees at the South Hill location will be able to transfer to another store, the company spokesperson said in an email.

Starbucks operates more than 31,000 stores in 82 markets worldwide. It has more than 40 stores in Spokane, according to the company’s website.