Posted on 07/15/2022 7:33:05 AM PDT by grundle
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz gave a bleak summary of the reasons why the company was shutting down 16 stores, and he specifically blamed local governments for their lack of law enforcement and treatment for mental illness.
The comments were made at an internal meeting and leaked to the public.
Schultz said that the stores were not unprofitable but that they were shut down because of safety concerns among the employees.
“It has shocked me that one of the primary concerns that our retail partners have is their own personal safety,” he said on the leaked video. “America has become unsafe.”
Schultz went on to specifically blame local state and city government leaders for abdicating their responsibilities to punish crime and to treat the mentally ill.
"Starbucks is a window into America, we have stores in every community, and we are facing things in which the stores were not built for and so we’re listening to our people and closing stores," Schultz continued.
The 16 stores were located in major cities including Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Two of the shops were among those that recently unionized, causing some workers to accuse the company of union-busting. Starbucks denies the allegations.
Schultz added in the leaked video that more closings were expected.
"This is just the beginning, there are going to be many more," he concluded.
Schultz had previously said in June that the company was considering ending its policy of allowing the general public to use its restrooms over security concerns.
Some on social media noted that the cities where the stores were closing were mostly run by Democrats.
The company's stock is 33% down since the beginning of the year, following a broader market downturn.
Here's more about the Starbucks shutdown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHBzFoZ3Ug8
“’America has become unsafe’” WUT!? Nobody told us. What a fidiot! 😵💫
Look in the mirror!
Boarded up stores, right out of Atlas Shrugged.
Hmmm - Starbucks supported BLM and the Summer of Destruction…and said they wanted to end ‘systemic racism’. How’s that going?
When you back progressive candidates, you get progressive results. Chew on that for a moment, Mr. Schultz.
Should have happened while Minneapolis was burning to celebrate Saint George.
Hey Starbucks CEO you helped create this ENJOY THE SUCK you POS!!
It isn’t “America” that’s unsafe; it’s DEMOCRAT-RUN American cities that aren’t safe. Call a spade a spade and stop blaming the whole country, leftist. We have two of your overpriced coffee stores here in my little town. Never once a problem.....
“’America has become unsafe’”
Bullsh!t.....It may have played a part but the main reason they had to close was the imbecilic corporate decision to let anyone hang out in the stores and use the bathrooms etc.
They became congregations of bums, homeless and druggies chasing all their legitimate customers away.
It’s taken him 2yrs to figure this out? Dolt.
I am offended that he is blaming everyone but himself, as a liberal.
He has voted and encouraged exactly the mess such cities have, including Seattle.
How dare he take it out on criminals or people he supported!
Remember when they started letting nonpaying degenerates loiter in their stores out of fear of being labeled raaayyyycists!
Get woke, go broke.
I guess supporting the “Defund Police” movement isn’t working so well for them.
She/he/it will win.
How stupid are these people. His political stances have helped put the politicians in place who have turned our cities into violent wastelands.
When reality meets virtue—signaling.
Deep Gang
I keep making cowboy coffee. No need for Starbucks or any overpriced coffee product. Talk about evidence for the addictive properties of caffeine....drive by a large Starbucks coffeehouse...think 5-20 bucks to starBUCKS per car...
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