Starbucks [SBUX] is closing more local storefronts, in keeping with the continuing economic downturn.

The Washington Business Journal reported yesterday that eight more stores are closing in the DC area, including two that I have visited on occasion. This is in line with the continuing additional waves of storefront closings and staff reductions worldwide.

N.B.

Starbucks has an updated list of storefront closings.

Also, there are other related Javamancy posts (in reverse chronological order):

• Which Starbucks Stores are Closing?
• Starbucks Takes Drastic Actions

 A Little Bit:

The game developer Free Radical is down… and out. The company door locks were changed so employees were unable to get access to their former work premises. Instead, they were told to report to an offsite location (a hotel meeting room) for a (de)briefing and a “Thanks for all your help, and goodbye” talk.

Kotaku reports a follow-up post on the subject.

While it is not uncommon for game studios to shut down, and there are certainly plenty of reasons for it (lack of funding, lack of interest, loss of distribution, etc.), more well-known developers may be heading for the chopping block as the economy continues to worsen and/or concepts collapse into obscurity. Earlier this year, Flagship Studios closed down, with Namco still running the game servers until early next year (and despite plenty of copies of Hellgate: London still being sold at full retail at Best Buy).

A Little Bit:

1UP has an interview with Bill Roper, co-founder of Flagship Studios, the dissolved game development shop behind Hellgate: London. Some discussion is spent on the events that led to the fall, and the terms surrounding the outcome, as well as some of the players in the corporate drama, including Namco Bandai.