The Boston Licensing Board granted a food‑service license to Starbucks for a new outlet inside the InterContinental Hotel at 510 Atlantic Avenue during the week of September 21–27, 2026. At the same time, Starbucks announced it will close 250 of its stores, including a nearby Boston location.
The announced closures follow a reduction that saw 627 Starbucks stores shut in the previous year across North America and Europe, indicating a continued contraction of the chain's overall footprint even as it opens a new site in downtown Boston.