Starbucks Starbucks, along with its partner Delek Group of Israel, closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment." The Starbucks location in the former imperial palace in Beijing closed in July 2007. The coffee shop had been a source of ongoing controversy since its opening in 2000 with protesters objecting that the presence of the American chain in this location "was trampling on Chinese culture." In July 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 underperforming company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks
Shoppers' Chain of Stores P54 million worth of expanded value added tax (EVAT) to the government for the year 2011. The management of Shoppers' Chain of Stores had hoped that the BIR will allow them to reopen its stores, having the BIR Zamboanga accepted the partial payment of P5 million a week before its closure, coupled with the appeal for reconsideration and recomputation of taxes due. Mayor Celso Lobregat intervened with the employees of Shoppers' stores that led to the lifting of BIR's order after accepting the said partial payment. Shoppers' Chain of Stores Shoppers' Chain of Stores is a chain of department stores