Starbucks pulls back access for people who don't pay

by Nathan Bomey

Starbucks is rolling back a policy that allows people to hang out there or use the bathroom without buying anything.

Why it matters: The chain implemented the policy in 2018, following a national uproar when two Black men who hadn't purchased anything were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia.

• Starbucks later apologized, reached a settlement with them and trained its workers on racial biases.

The big picture: The shift is part of a new code of conduct at Starbucks cafes.

• Among the changes will be the posting of signs banning discrimination and harassment, violence or abusive language, outside alcohol, panhandling, drug use, and other disruptive behavior.

What they're saying: "By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone," Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson says.

Between the lines: It's one of the first big changes after the company hired CEO Brian Niccol, who is under pressure to pull off a turnaround amid disappointing sales.

• "Our values, developed with input from hundreds of partners, aren't changing," Niccol wrote Thursday in a message posted on Starbuck's website before the policy change surfaced.

Starbucks delays Philadelphia community store

Starbucks has delayed the opening of a selective community store in North Philadelphia.

The big picture: The coffee giant planned to debut Pennsylvania's first community store location in Philly by the end of this year.

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