Starbucks to close stores in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ Starbucks Coffee Co. says it will close three of its stores in Puerto Rico's capital by the end of June.

Spokesman Adolfo Santana says the stores struggled financially because they were too close to other Starbucks locations. He says all employees will be transferred to other stores.

The announcement comes as other businesses in the metropolitan area have closed amid an economic slowdown.

Starbucks arrived in Puerto Rico six years ago and operates 22 stores across the U.S. Caribbean territory. Santana said Friday that he expects another store to open by year's end.

The Seattle-based coffee chain said last month that rising food and gas prices were to blame for a 28 percent drop in second-quarter earnings.