Posted on 01/14/2025 4:57:00 AM PST by TigerClaws
Starbucks is reversing its open-door policy after almost seven years, now requiring that people make a purchase if they want to hang out at its coffee shops or use its restrooms.
The coffee giant said on Monday that a new code of conduct – which will be posted in all company-owned North American stores – will also ban discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling.
The new rules reverse an open-door policy put in place in 2018, after two Black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks where they had gone for a business meeting. The incident at that individual store, which had a policy of asking non-paying customers to leave, was caught on video and was a major embarrassment for the company.
The change also comes under the new leadership of Brian Niccol, who was hired from Chipotle last year to revitalize the struggling coffee chain. Niccol has vowed to make Starbucks' locations "inviting places to linger," with the goal of reestablishing the chain as the nation's "community coffeehouse."
Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson said the new rules are designed to help prioritize paying customers. Anderson said most other retailers already have similar rules.
"We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores," Anderson said. "By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone." Stores may call law enforcement
The code of conduct warns that violators will be asked to leave, and says the store may call law enforcement, if necessary. Starbucks said employees would receive training on enforcing the new policy.
At the time of the 2018 incident, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz said he didn't want people to feel "less than" if they were refused access.
"We don't want to become a public bathroom, but we're going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key," Schultz said.
Since then, though, employees and customers have struggled with unruly and even dangerous behavior in stores. In 2022, Starbucks closed 16 stores around the country — including six in Los Angeles and six in its hometown of Seattle — for repeated safety issues, including drug use and other disruptive behaviors that threatened staff.
Since the pandemic shuttered the economy in early 2020, mental health issues as well as misuse of drugs have increased, as well as homelessness.
“after two Black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks where they had gone for a business meeting.”
It’s pronounced bitnez. The two guys were friggen homeless aholes who stunk like ass.
It’s good when virtue signaling hurts.
I suspect that this policy change would not have happened if Harris won (fear of DOJ lawsuit).
Elections have consequences...both bad and good.
Yeah let’s go down to Starbucks and hang out with the homeless doesn’t seem to have much appeal I guess.
I might go back if they now stop treating cops like crap...even though their coffee is swill.
What was actually happening in the 16 places that closed the homeless would go into the bathrooms to take baths, shoot up, who knows, and ‘open door policy’ they couldn’t be kicked out.
Paying customers pissed. So what to do?
CLOSE THE STORE.
Rather than admit their lunacy and how stupid the policy was just close the store. Loss of jobs and income for the business <<< virtue signaling.
Gotta virtue signal always so the soccer mom paying $6 for coffee with her ‘fight racism’ $100 Lululemon yoga pants knows her husband’s money is going for a good cause.
On his Apple computer!
Plot your next kill spree in a safe environment and our nose ring barista won’t chase you off.
“Business meeting” - a/k/a drug deal.
Remember when the original image Starbucks wanted to project was upscale third place coffee house for upscale/aspirational people? Deadbeat bums were not part of the demographic they wanted to attract back then. Did Howard Schultz know that most cities have any number of shelters for that cohort?
This makes Starbucks a racist organization, yes?
still capitalizing the b in black. lol.
“after two Black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks where they had gone for a business meeting.”
two pimps planning human trafficking details
Barnes & Noble has or had the same open door policy. I haven’t been to one for years but last time I sat down there, the comfy chair smelled like butt hole.
This new policy for Starbucks will be difficult to uphold. The light in the loafers employees would never be able to get these people out. Confrontation is not their thing.
So tampons in the men’s room at Facebook -> gone.
Open door policy for homeless to shoot up drugs in the bathroom -> gone.
I guess the corporate plan was to ax these things but wait until Trump wins the election so they can blame him for the policy change?
Zuckerbucks (who gave $400 million to defeat Trump) is now showing up on Rogan decrying censorship.
What a difference an election makes...
Panera restaurants should adopt this policy.
“a new code of conduct – which will be posted in all company-owned North American stores – will also ban discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling.”
still a bunch of Libtards. two of these things are not like the other...subjective perception vs objective conduct...sorry Starsucks, keep trying.
Nice catch!
They still have to VIRTUE SIGNAL within the change of policy.
So I’m a store manager, “They gotta buy something or kick them out. Call police.”
“Got it!”
“But don’t discriminate against panhandlers or drug users.”
“Okay, so the guy sh*tting on the floor because he hasn’t had a fix today... do I kick him out or not? He was here last week and did the same thing...”
“Yes, but don’t discriminate or harass...”
“Harass? I just told the guy to leave and he yelled at me.”
**
Discriminate = make a decision to treat the paying customer one way and the homeless guy washing his ass in the sink another.
So that’s bad??
I use to frequent a shopping area that had no public restroom. I’d go into a Moes tex-mex restaurant and buy a soda and then use their restroom. I wouldn’t just pass by their checkout counter, use the restroom and leave making no purchase.
It’s called “have some respect”.
Oh no, not StarSucks…say it ain’t so!
Because who doesn’t want BO, bedbugs and dirty needles to go with their scones and $10 frappaccino?
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