NATIONWIDE – More than 100 Starbucks coffee shops will be closed in 2019. 

The company is closing 150 stores. Every year Starbucks closes underperforming stores.

However, three times the amount of stores will close compared to in years past.

Sales are expected to grow just one percent in the next quarter.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said the closures will help the coffee chain better meet the needs of customers.

The company received backlash after two black men were arrested for hanging out at a Philadelphia Starbucks in April. In response to the nationwide outrage, Starbucks closed 8,000 stores for one day of anti-bias training.