Bummer

Eleven Peaberry Coffee shops will become Starbucks, but the Denver-based chain is keeping its prominent locations in Cherry Creek North and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

The 15-year-old Peaberry Coffee chain will continue to operate 17 stores as part of a restructuring effort its founder said will help it focus more on franchising and coffee-bean sales.

Starbucks will take over Peaberry's leases at all 11 locations.

The first three stores to close will be at 2026 S. University Blvd. in Denver, 320 S. Colorado Boulevard in Glendale and 12161 Sheridan Blvd. in Broomfield.

Those stores will close Friday, said Bill Tointon, president and founder of Peaberry's. The rest will follow over the next month.

Other stores that will be closed and transferred to Starbucks are at 2400 Baseline Road in Boulder; 1 W. Flatiron Circle in Broomfield; 200 Quebec St. in Denver; 150 S. Union Blvd. in Lakewood; 5070 E. Arapahoe Road and 5350 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton; 17051 Lincoln Ave. in Parker; and 12751 W. 32nd Ave. in Wheat Ridge.

Tointon declined to say how many of Peaberry's 200 retail employees will lose their jobs as a result of the closings. The company is working to transfer workers to the 17 stores that will remain open.

What sucks is not only is Starbucks growing even more, it's that Peaberry will be less accessible. They don't roast as dark as 'Bucks and the coffee is way better. Also kind of a bummer is they are closing the store I helped open. Although, I still don't feel too bad since they didn't believe me over my jerk for a manager Jesse.