It looks like Starbucks is finally waking up and smelling the coffee – or maybe they just got tired of their stores turning into makeshift homeless shelters. After a 2018 policy that allowed anyone to hang out in their cafes without making a purchase, the coffee giant is now stirring things up with a reversal. In the new Trump era, you’ll need more than free Wi-Fi and a dream to occupy one of their coveted armchairs.
The original policy, introduced with much fanfare, aimed to promote inclusivity. But like a poorly brewed batch of decaf, it left a bitter aftertaste. Reports of drug use, loitering, and general chaos have brewed over the years, leaving many paying customers steamed. Apparently, it’s hard to enjoy your $7 pumpkin-spice latte when someone’s using the seat next to you as their personal Airbnb.
According to the Daily Mail [1], if you’re in Starbucks, you actually have to make a purchase now, including if you are just dropping in for a bathroom break. Their new code of conduct that came out on Monday included a statement, “We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores. By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone.”
Their old policy wasn’t exactly “inclusive” for their workers and communities who lost their neighborhood stores that were closed. Starbucks had to close about 16 stores in the country, including many in the progressive and crime-ridden Los Angeles and Seattle, because of safety issues (drug use and disruptive conduct).
This latest change puts Starbucks back in the business of coffee again and not free real estate. It should make their investors, workers and customers a lot happier.
While some critics of the new policy claim this move stirs up trouble for the “unhoused,” most folks say it’s about time the company focused on actual customers – and creating a safe environment for them. After all, people didn’t spend $25 on a reusable tumbler to watch their favorite Starbucks location turn into a scene from Zombieland.
The message is clear: Starbucks isn’t your local library or warming center. It’s a place to sip overpriced caffeine while answering emails and texting your secret girlfriend. So, if you’ve been treating the mermaid logo like a free pass to unlimited lounging, better caffeinate elsewhere – because the baristas just reclaimed their cafes.