To the detriment of students, a local Starbucks at 8639 Tualatin Sherwood Rd. closed in late January, eliminating the convenience of a drink stop for many. One certainty in the morning routine of Tualatin High School students is the guarantee of spotting at least three Starbucks cups filled with various specialty drinks. 

With this new closure, it’s important to note the other options available around the community. 

Paige Tomka, a loyal Tualatin Sherwood Starbucks customer, said, “That Starbucks was my favorite Starbucks because it was never busy, and I never saw people that I knew. Also, the Martinazzi drive-through is so annoying to drive through.”

Losing this location is not only losing a convenient stop but also the atmosphere created by the customers and the baristas who worked there. However, the location owners have guaranteed that those baristas will be provided with work opportunities in other Starbucks locations around Tualatin. 

With this closure, what used to be a quick Starbucks run might become a detour to one of the many other locations around Tualatin. Luckily, there are a few options not so far away from Tualatin Sherwood Rd., including one at 7131 Nyberg Rd. and another at 19321 SW Martinazzi.

In addition, there will always be the alternative of other chains and local coffee businesses, including The Human Bean, Peet’s Coffee, Dutch Bros, Black Rock and many more. 

A constant rival in popularity to Starbucks is Dutch Bros, popular for their blended fuels and ever-expanding menus, located only a few blocks away from the Starbucks closure on Tualatin Sherwood Rd. 

Dutch regularJunior Lyan Abdulhaq recommends a small, half-sweet, blended raspberry peach rebel.

Another location growing in popularity to Starbucks is Black Rock, a perfect location for people who live closer to Bull Mountain. Not only do they have a variety of frozen fuel flavors, but they also have a great selection for coffee and matcha lovers. 

While the closure of Starbucks might be an inconvenience, there is no shortage of close locations with great drinks to try.