Evanston Starbucks Reopens Amid Strike, Staffed by Managers and New Hires

The Starbucks at 1901 Dempster St. reopened early on Jan. 20 despite an ongoing strike by unionized partners, creating a tense scene that highlights the operational strains employers face when labor disputes intersect with day-to-day service.

Striking partners said the store is operating reduced hours and is being staffed by a mix of new hires, managers from other stores and a handful of employees who crossed the picket line. Picket-line activity continued outside the location, where unionized workers pressed for more progress at the bargaining table and raised ongoing concerns about staffing and scheduling practices that they say undercut service quality and worker livelihoods.

Management’s decision to reopen with a different staffing mix has immediate operational consequences. Stores running on managers and recent hires commonly face longer service times and heavier training burdens, which can frustrate customers and increase pressure on the workers pulled from other locations. Partners who cover shifts at the reopened store may leave gaps at their home stores, transferring short-term relief into broader scheduling headaches across the district.

For unionized baristas, the reopening represents a test of solidarity and public support. The presence of crossing partners complicates internal dynamics and can affect retention and morale. New hires who fill these shifts enter a charged workplace where training now includes navigating picket lines and community attention. That environment may accelerate turnover among transient hires and place additional stress on managers, who must balance store operation with enforcement of company policies and local labor ordinances.

The incident in Evanston is part of a larger pattern in which corporate responses to union activity include reopening buildings with non-striking staff. That approach aims to maintain revenue and customer access but can deepen tensions with labor groups and local communities that have shown strong support for bargaining demands in some markets. For workers, the strategy forces choices about crossing picket lines, staying on strike, or accepting roles that may be short-lived and fraught.

Customers experienced shorter hours and altered service routines at the Dempster Street location while the picket line remained active. For managers, district leaders and corporate planners, the episode underscores trade-offs between keeping stores open and preserving labor relations that affect long-term staffing and brand reputation.

What comes next for workers and the store will depend on whether bargaining yields concrete movement on contract issues and how the company balances short-term operations with efforts to rebuild trust. For unionized partners and managers alike, the reopening is likely to shape scheduling, retention and community relations in the weeks ahead.