Closure of Osborne Village Starbucks comes amid 'escalating' violence, BIZ exec director says | CBC News

· Posted: May 02, 2024 8:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 3

A popular coffee chain is closing its location in Winnipeg's Osborne Village next week, with customers and the local BIZ saying they've been told safety concerns in the area are the reason.

Starting Monday, the Starbucks on River Avenue and Osborne Street will be temporarily closed, a spokesperson told CBC. The company hasn't set a date for reopening, but employees at the location will be able to transfer to another store temporarily, the spokesperson said.

She did not provide a reason for the closure.

However, it comes after a number of violent incidents in the area over the last several months, including an assault at a business next door this week.

Winnipeg Police Service Const. Dani McKinnon told CBC that a customer was waiting in line outside of the Liquor Mart, next to the Starbucks, around 7 p.m. Wednesday when they were randomly attacked.

Staff quickly intervened in the assault and the victim will be OK, McKinnon said.

A 39-year-old man, who McKinnon believes is known to police, was Tasered by officers outside of the Liquor Mart and later charged with assault by choking, suffocating or strangling, she said.

"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances. I'm glad that the victim was not severely injured."

WATCH | Starbucks closing Osborne Village location:

Starbucks in Osborne Village to close

Farther down Osborne Street, a man was seriously injured when he was attacked at the Burger King restaurant at Confusion Corner. In November, three people were stabbed in broad daylight at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Unique Bunny, an Asian beauty and lifestyle chain that had a store in the Village, closed its location there late last year, with the owner citing a decline in foot traffic and public safety concerns in the area.

Zohreh Gervais, executive director of the Osborne Village Business Improvement Zone, says when a business cites safety concerns for its closure, there are typically other factors at play as well.

But the Starbucks situation is different, the BIZ director said.

"This is a case where I believe safety is the only thing, and that to me is why it's so alarming, and I hope that it rings some alarm bells to the city and to the province because this is a problem," she told CBC.

Gervais doesn't think there's an "overarching exodus" of businesses leaving the Village, but says employers have concerns.

"They're not equipped and they shouldn't have to deal with these incredibly violent issues that just seem to be escalating in the Village lately."

Patrols and safe walks from Sabe Peace Walkers are helping, but the safety issues in Osborne Village are being driven in part by systemic factors such as addictions, homelessness and mental health issues, said Gervais.

"It's alarming to me that it's gotten to this point and we really, really need support," she said.

'It's just a shame'

Gerard Dheilly, a regular customer at the Osborne Starbucks, is disappointed by the closure.

"I've been going here for 11½ years, and you meet people," he told CBC. "It's too bad that they're closing down. It's just a shame."

Dheilly says staff told him they're closing due to violence in the area, which concerns him too.

"The drug use, and people beating up one another and harassing other people — all I can say, it's really sad."

Donna Dolski, who works in the Village part time, said she goes to the Starbucks often and is also disappointed to see the store close.

She'd like to see more patrols in the area but says that won't solve the problem alone.

"We need to find a way to [help] these people who are struggling to have safety and security, housing, mental health and addiction support," she said.

With files from Rosanna Hempel and Meaghan Ketcheson