Starbucks is saying goodbye to freeloaders.
The world’s biggest coffee chain announced today that it will no longer offer free use of its bathrooms or meeting spaces. Beginning next week, amenities will be reserved for paying customers only.
The move undoes a policy put in place back in 2018 after two black men, who did not make a purchase, were arrested for holding a meeting at a Starbucks location in Philadelphia. At the time, the company declared that “Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase.”
Starbucks has suffered from a loss of business — and a dramatic drop in its stock price — over the past year which appeared to be tied to international conflicts and rising prices.
The company fired CEO Laxman Narasimhan in August 2024, replacing him with former Chipotle boss Brian Niccol.
“We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores. Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct is something most retailers already have and is a practical step that helps us prioritize our paying customers who want to sit and enjoy our cafes or need to use the restroom during their visit,” a rep for the company told Fox News.
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Photo: Wikimedia Commons
