The Starbucks at 39th and Walnut streets quietly reopened last month after being closed for nearly two months due to renovations.
The store, a popular coffee spot adjacent to Penn's campus, temporarily shut its doors in June and underwent renovations. The updated interior includes new seating, lighting, and layout. The reopening aligns with the start of the fall semester, ensuring that the location will resume its role as a central source for the Penn community's caffeine needs.
Starbucks did not respond to a request for comment.
The renovations follow notable labor organization developments at this Starbucks location earlier this year. On Jan. 10, its employees voted to unionize, joining a growing national movement advocating for better wages, safer working conditions, racial and gender equity, fair scheduling, and overall respect in the workplace. The 39th and Walnut streets store became the 11th Starbucks location in Pennsylvania to unionize and align itself with nearly 400 other storefronts across the country.
However, workers have accused Starbucks of refusing to negotiate fair contracts, leading to dozens of complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Board. The allegations include worker intimidation, the enforcement of discriminatory rules, and the unlawful discipline and termination of union organizers.
In November 2023, over 40 workers at the 39th and Walnut streets location participated in a national walkout on Red Cup Day — an event where Starbucks customers receive free reusable red cups with their purchases. The protest at the 39th and Walnut store attracted support from employees at neighboring locations, demonstrating a collective desire for change among members of the workforce.
Despite Starbucks losing 16 of the 17 cases brought against them, no unionized location has yet secured a contract with the company. In April, Starbucks announced its intent to resume contract negotiations, but progress has been slow, leaving many workers frustrated with the lack of tangible results.
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