DALLAS — Some local baristas will be looking for jobs.

Starbucks just announced which of its company-owned stores will be closing by early next year.

At least 27 will shut their doors in North Texas and some 600 across the country.

A lot of customers are saddened to find out their favorite shops won't be around much longer.

At the height of Starbucks' expansion, company executives referred to the coffee shop as "the third place in your life."

A place where you could gather with friends, familiar faces, do a little side-business.

But then the economy went soft and the company realized it had to pull back.

At least 27 Starbucks will be closed in the D/FW area.

People have great affection for what they call "their Starbucks."

We visited three Starbucks this morning that are about to close. The patrons were motivated.

"This is a neighborhood place. We all come here at any time of the day and know at least one person in the store," said Elizabeth Marshall.

"There's nothing like that. We can't just replace the community and go down the road to another Starbucks."

At least nine Starbucks are closing in Dallas, three in Fort Worth, four in Arlington, four in Plano and two in Frisco.

Some people are starting e-mail campaigns to try and keep their local Starbucks open.

E-mail jfarmer@wfaa.com