Arnie Alpert spent decades as a community organizer/educator in NH movements for social justice and peace. Officially retired from the American Friends Service Committee since 2020, he keeps his hands (and feet) in the activist world while writing about past and present social movements. You can reach him at arnie.alpert@indepthnh.org. Arnie Alpert
The “Red Cup Rebellion” strike of Starbucks workers reached New Hampshire Thursday, when baristas set up picket lines at stores in Epping, Stratham, and Seabrook. The Stratham store, normally open until 9:00 pm, was closed by 12:30 pm.
“We’re not staffed properly, so we’re overworked, and we don’t get paid enough for the amount of work that we do,” said Scott Lasalette, who was on the picket line outside the Epping store.
Cailyn Heath, a shift supervisor at the Stratham Starbucks, said the strike will go on “as long as it takes.”
“We want better wages. We want better working conditions. We want people to be able to afford rent,” she said, “to be paid enough that they can afford an apartment, that they don’t have to be choosing between groceries and meds.”
Nationwide, the strike launched on November 13, with walkouts at 65 stores in more than 40 cities. Like the UAW’s 2023 Stand Up Strike, Starbucks Workers United is adding more stores each week. Today, the union said, baristas went on strike at 26 additional stores including the three in New Hampshire, bringing the total to more than 145.
The company says “99% of our 17,000 U.S. locations remain open.”
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The union says its strike is focused on hundreds of unresolved unfair labor practice charges, “more labor law violations than any employer in modern history.” The charges include firings of union members and a failure to negotiate over policies such as a controversial dress code.
The union is getting support from the Teamsters Union, whose members have a practice of refusing to cross picket lines. April Richer, a Dover Teamster who was on the picket lines in Epping and Stratham today, said a Teamster delivery driver turned back from the Stratham store this morning.
Lasallette said the Epping store had less than half its normal staffing today due to the strike. “The store can’t operate with those numbers,” he said.
By early afternoon, a sign taped to the door of the Stratham Starbucks said, “We have temporarily closed our in-store café, but our drive-through remains open.” When I arrived at about 1 pm, the café was dark and the drive-through window appeared to be unstaffed. “Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience,” the sign said.
According to a company statement, “Starbucks offers the best job in retail, with pay and benefits averaging $30 per hour for hourly partners.” Lasallette said that as a full-time worker, he has access to benefits, but that many baristas, who work less than 20 hours a week, are out of luck. “The benefits are nearly impossible to get with the current way that the stores are run,” he said.
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According to the company’s own figures, its CEO last year made 6666 times as much as the median worker, a part-time barista earning $14,674 a year.
The union continues to ask potential customers to stay away from all Starbucks stores and products while the strike is on. A union email, sent today, said, “On December 15, we’re asking allies across the country to show up at non-union Starbucks stores to ask customers to stop buying Starbucks. It only takes 1 to 3 people to make a real impact. And if we work together, we can talk to thousands upon thousands of customers at hundreds of stores all on the same day.”
According to the union, more than 200,000 people have signed their “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge. The union has also drawn support from a wide range of organizations, including major unions, Peace Action, the Sunrise Movement, and the Democratic Socialists of America, which is organizing “strike kitchens” in support of union members.
The union and the company each accuse the other of walking away from the bargaining table. “Right now, it’s their move,” Heath said.
Picketing Friday morning will focus on the Starbucks store at Seabrook Crossing. The New Hampshire AFL-CIO emailed an alert to its members encouraging them to be there.
The Mall at Fox Run’s time is coming to a close on January 31, 2026. That’s just a fact, no matter how unfortunate it may be.
This staple Newington, New Hampshire, spot has served up decades of memories for many, including family trips, hanging out with friends, and simply enjoying the latest shopping finds.
But while change can be sad and hard, the area is getting a reset with what will become Seacoast Landing, which, according to Seacoast Online, will be a “revamped commercial hub that would include a big box store, small businesses and restaurants.”
Mall at Fox Run to Make Way for Seacoast Landing in Newington, New Hampshire
The Mall at Fox Run is not just closing, but the whole area will be demolished. It really is the end of an era.
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But where there once was an enclosed building with multiple stores, Atlantic Retail highlights that Seacoast Landing will be an “81 acre premier regional retail destination.” Meaning it will be multiple buildings to access, rather than just walking through to each one inside.
Red Post Realty even noted what’s proposed for the site, including multiple large anchor buildings, retail and office space, a medical building, pad sites, a new internal road network, and an outdoor pedestrian boulevard connecting Chick-fil-A to Texas.
Seacoast Online said that this massive project will reportedly cost north of $500 million.
What Stores and Restaurants Are at Seacoast Landing in Newington, New Hampshire?
The official announcements as to what places are coming to Seacoast Landing have not been made, but that will be coming soon. So keep an ear out.
Red Post Realty posted a Facebook video sharing a quick update on the project while also asking people what places they want to see come to Seacoast Landing.
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The Facebook video garnered hundreds of comments, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the top ones.
Just note that none of these suggestions are confirmed for Seacoast Landing. Red Post Realty even noted that there are NDAs in place, so anything you hear about is likely a rumor until official confirmation.
Let’s take a look and dream of what the next phase of Newington could maybe include!
27 Places People Want at Seacoast Landing as the Mall at Fox Run Closes in NH
Here are suggestions of what locals would like to see at Seacoast Landing after the Mall at Fox Run is demolished. These are not at all confirmed, but rather they are ideas of what people are hoping for.
Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna
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READ MORE: 17 Nostalgic Memories of Fox Run Mall in New Hampshire That’ll Take You Back
Some of the favorites based on the comments were definitely places like The Cheesecake Factory, Costco, and IKEA.
Interestingly, some of the suggestions already have other locations in New Hampshire, but there were places mentioned that can’t be found anywhere in the Granite State.
Some of those spots include The Cheesecake Factory, The Disney Store, and The Rainforest Cafe.
What spots will actually wind up at the new Seacoast Landing remains to be seen, but it’s certainly fun to wish your favorite places make the cut. Oh, to dream.
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Remember When the Fox Run Mall in NH Had These 22 Stores?
MANCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) – A New Hampshire community is mourning after a Manchester native, who recently became a police officer in Texas, was killed in the line of duty.
Elijah Garretson, 27, died Saturday in a shooting. He’s joined the force in Texas last year.
Garretson leaves behind a wife and a 5-year-old daughter.
In a statement, Manchester’s mayor said, “Elijah exemplified a lifetime of service, first as a U.S. Army veteran and later in law enforcement. His sacrifice is deeply felt here at home, and our prayers are with his family, loved ones, and fellow officers during this difficult time.”
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(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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The East Rochester Library has been added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, according to a community announcement.
John McLain, president of the East Rochester Library Association, reacted to the designation: “This is exciting news! The process of obtaining this status has been a long and difficult one, with hours upon hours of research and documentation by our volunteers.”
In an official letter, the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources congratulated the library association on the listing and recognized their efforts and the property’s significance.
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The division also expressed appreciation for the association’s stewardship and commitment to preserving an important part of New Hampshire’s heritage.
This story was created by Kimberly Green, KGreen@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
