"If You’re Not Ordering, Please Leave"... North American Starbucks Gets More Demanding

Starbucks stores in the North American region are expected to implement a policy that prohibits the use of the store and restrooms by those who do not order beverages or other items.

Starbucks store image. Provided by Starbucks

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On the 14th, Yonhap News reported Starbucks' new regulations, citing the U.S. daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Bloomberg News. According to the report, Starbucks will abolish the policy of allowing visitors who do not place orders to enter stores after seven years.

Starbucks announced that it will introduce these new regulations at North American stores starting on the 27th to improve the safety of customers and employees. The code of conduct will specify that store facilities such as cafes, outdoor seating, and restrooms are spaces exclusively for Starbucks customers, their companions, and employees.

Baristas must ask individuals who do not comply with the code of conduct to leave the store, and free water will only be provided to customers and their companions.

The WSJ mentioned that the notice to be sent to employees will actively include messages prohibiting harassment, violence, verbal abuse, drinking, and smoking. Starbucks' new policy is expected to be implemented at more than 11,000 North American stores as early as the 27th of this month. Accordingly, the 'store open policy' that has been in place since 2018 will be abolished after seven years.

Starbucks' 'open policy' is known to have started in 2018 due to issues with restroom use in stores. At that time, Starbucks implemented an 'open policy' allowing the use of cafes and restrooms regardless of purchase.

In April of the same year, a Black customer at a Starbucks store in downtown Philadelphia requested to use the restroom without ordering a drink and was arrested by police who responded after an employee's report. A video showing the Black customer being handcuffed while remaining still spread on social media, sparking controversy, and some even launched a boycott, leading then-chairman Howard Schultz to apologize multiple times personally.

Jim Fuel (72), a Starbucks customer living in Fremont, California, told the WSJ that some nearby stores closed their restrooms due to people entering from the street. In 2022, as incidents increased where drug addicts entered stores and caused harm to employees and customers, 16 Starbucks stores in the U.S. were closed due to safety concerns.

Starbucks. Pixabay

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Ultimately, as the full store open policy caused safety issues and affected the improvement of the store environment, Starbucks implemented a new code of conduct. While many reviews expressed gratitude for being able to use Starbucks restrooms in urgent situations, on-site baristas have opposed the policy, saying it could cause confusion.

Sarah Trilling, President of Starbucks North America, emphasized, "There is a need to reset how store spaces are used and the expectations for users."

Following this, Brian Niccol, who took office as Starbucks CEO in September last year, began work on improving the store environment and explained in a letter released last month, "Our stores will be spaces where customers want to stay."

After the WSJ report, Starbucks' stock price rose 1.4% on the 13th, closing at $93.51 per share. Starbucks' stock price has risen 2.5% so far this month.

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