Local Starbucks Spared

The two Starbucks baristas that opened in Hernando County in the last 18 months will not be among the 600 to close down, according to the coffee company.

Starbucks is closing 59 stores in Florida - including three in Tampa, two in Clearwater and one in St. Petersburg - but those located at 19348 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville and 13165 Cortez Blvd. in Spring Hill will remain open.

The barista located inside the Target store along Commercial Way also will be unaffected.

There is no word on whether future plans to open a third local Starbucks at the corner of Mariner Boulevard and Northcliffe Boulevard have been scrapped, according to a company spokeswoman.

Starbucks would only confirm the list, which was posted on the company's Web site Friday, and would not share any other information.

The coffee giant announced July 1 it had plans to shut down 600 stores nationwide. The closings will begin this month and will continue through the end of next year.

Partners in the stores included on the list have been notified.