Blab Business
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Shrinks U.S. Footprint to 192 Stores Amid Pandemic-Driven Restructuring
When The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opened its first shop in a modest Southern California storefront in 1963, it was a quiet corner of the coffee world. Fast forward to 2026, and the specialty‑coffee chain has pared its U.S. presence to 192 locations across 12 states, a dramatic contraction that reflects both the long‑term shift in its domestic strategy and the shockwaves of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Founded in 1963, the chain grew steadily to become one of the largest coffee and tea retailers outside the industry giants. By 2019 it operated more than 1,100 cafés worldwide, and that same year Philippine conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corporation acquired the brand for $350 million. While The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf had begun expanding internationally in 1996, its U.S. footprint has steadily declined since the early 2020s.
Between 2020 and 2022, the company lost 84 U.S. locations, including 65 company‑owned stores, according to FranchiseTimes. The pandemic accelerated a trend that had already been underway: in 2016 the chain closed all 12 Manhattan stores—a move reported by The Business Journals—and subsequent closures followed in several key markets. California saw multiple store shutdowns between 2020 and 2025, as noted by The Desert Sun, Yelp, and Brentwood News LA. In 2026, the Las Vegas Review‑Journal reported the closure of three Las Vegas locations, and Austin‑area stores were shuttered from 2016 to 2026, according to Community Impact, MapQuest, and Yelp.
Today, most remaining cafés cluster in California, with a growing share of locations in non‑traditional settings such as airports, healthcare facilities, and university campuses. Industry observers describe the chain’s current U.S. strategy as a pivot from aggressive growth to a more streamlined, profitability‑focused model. The shift toward embedded coffee services mirrors a broader industry trend toward non‑traditional formats.
The company’s global presence remains robust. Wikipedia lists 1,232 stores across 24 countries as of 2024, and the brand continues to expand in Asia—Jollibee’s key growth lever—while maintaining a solid international footprint.
The U.S. store count has fallen from its peak of more than 1,100 cafés worldwide to 192 locations in the United States. The contraction reflects broader challenges in the specialty‑coffee sector, including changing consumer habits, higher operating costs, and the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
While the chain has not issued specific guidance for future U.S. expansion, it continues to operate in Asia and other international markets. The next earnings report for the company will be released in Q3 2026, but no guidance has been issued. Because the chain is privately held, investor reactions are limited to private ownership dynamics rather than public market movements.
In summary, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s U.S. operations have contracted to 192 stores, a significant reduction from its peak expansion years. The company is concentrating on maintaining profitability in its remaining locations while sustaining a strong international brand under Jollibee Foods Corporation.
Founded in 1963, the chain grew steadily to become one of the largest coffee and tea retailers outside the industry giants. By 2019 it operated more than 1,100 cafés worldwide, and that same year Philippine conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corporation acquired the brand for $350 million. While The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf had begun expanding internationally in 1996, its U.S. footprint has steadily declined since the early 2020s.
Between 2020 and 2022, the company lost 84 U.S. locations, including 65 company‑owned stores, according to FranchiseTimes. The pandemic accelerated a trend that had already been underway: in 2016 the chain closed all 12 Manhattan stores—a move reported by The Business Journals—and subsequent closures followed in several key markets. California saw multiple store shutdowns between 2020 and 2025, as noted by The Desert Sun, Yelp, and Brentwood News LA. In 2026, the Las Vegas Review‑Journal reported the closure of three Las Vegas locations, and Austin‑area stores were shuttered from 2016 to 2026, according to Community Impact, MapQuest, and Yelp.
Today, most remaining cafés cluster in California, with a growing share of locations in non‑traditional settings such as airports, healthcare facilities, and university campuses. Industry observers describe the chain’s current U.S. strategy as a pivot from aggressive growth to a more streamlined, profitability‑focused model. The shift toward embedded coffee services mirrors a broader industry trend toward non‑traditional formats.
The company’s global presence remains robust. Wikipedia lists 1,232 stores across 24 countries as of 2024, and the brand continues to expand in Asia—Jollibee’s key growth lever—while maintaining a solid international footprint.
The U.S. store count has fallen from its peak of more than 1,100 cafés worldwide to 192 locations in the United States. The contraction reflects broader challenges in the specialty‑coffee sector, including changing consumer habits, higher operating costs, and the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
While the chain has not issued specific guidance for future U.S. expansion, it continues to operate in Asia and other international markets. The next earnings report for the company will be released in Q3 2026, but no guidance has been issued. Because the chain is privately held, investor reactions are limited to private ownership dynamics rather than public market movements.
In summary, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s U.S. operations have contracted to 192 stores, a significant reduction from its peak expansion years. The company is concentrating on maintaining profitability in its remaining locations while sustaining a strong international brand under Jollibee Foods Corporation.
