Starbucks will require purchase before granting restroom access: NPR

Starbucks has introduced a policy that will require people to make a purchase if they want to go out to their cafe or use the restroom. It’s part of a strategy the new CEO hopes customers will welcome at a time of declining profits.

The chain says its new code of conduct “is something that most retailers have and is designed to make it clear that our spaces – including our cafes, terraces and toilets – are intended for use by customers and partners” .

3 things to know:

1. This is a reversal of the company’s 2018 open-door restroom policy implemented after two black men, who had not ordered anything, were arrested at a Philadelphia location while waiting for a meeting. ‘business.
2. It’s part of changes new CEO Brian Niccol is making to try to address poor performance at the coffee giant, whose sales have been in steady decline for months. Its other priorities include faster delivery times and a simpler menu.
3. The Wall Street Journal reports that the policy will be implemented later this month in more than 11,000 Starbucks stores in North America and will require a three-hour training session for staff.

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Finding public toilets can be difficult

This will undoubtedly pose a barrier for people who may need to use public restrooms more than others, such as those with special medical needs or pregnant women. It’s a long-standing problem for Americans and has inspired entire Instagram accounts to help people find accessible toilets in New York.

The loss of third places

Starbucks executives say they want coffee to be a “third place” – not at work, not at home – where people can meet and build a sense of community. Americans have seen a decline in these spaces over the years, and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. And as WBUR reported last year, rebuilding them is essential to our well-being and happiness.

Go deeper with NPR on Starbucks’ woes: