Way back in 2018 Starbucks was accused of racism!
Surprise was the first reaction here.
It must have been a typo.
Someone at the Associated Press (AP) mistakenly typed "Starbucks" instead of "Cracker Barrel" in an online racial incident template.
Why Starbucks is more conscious of racism than Robin DiAngelo.
Of its workforce, 40% is a member of a minority protected class.
Accusing Starbucks of racism was like accusing 7/11 of banning people from India, or Pakistan from inside the store.
The "racial" incident occurred in a Philadelphia store when the manager asked two Black men to leave since they were taking up a table without ordering.
Naturally they weren’t going to be bossed around by some white lady so they refused.
The incident wound up on a cellphone and major regime media outlets called corporate.
Starbucks’ response was to drop the manager into a vat of roasting coffee beans, apologize to the trespassers, and announce "Try Our Competitors Day!"
That's when all stores were closed and employees were required to attend a one-day re-education (indoctrination) camp so they could learn about the dangers of assuming corporate would stand behind "partners," when an incident involving a member of a minority protected class of persons occurred.
Thanks to that corporate brainstorm, many inner-city locations quickly went from upscale coffee bistro to a San Francisco public library. You can read the entire column here.
We predicted in no time at all Starbucks will be home to the type of colorful human–interest stories — often featuring bodycam footage — that are commonly associated with Waffle House and Walmart parking lots.
Our prediction turned out to be correct. Corporate discovered being the concession stand in a homeless encampment was bad for employees and customers, "You’re also seeing firsthand the challenges facing our communities — personal safety, racism, lack of access to healthcare, a growing mental health crisis, rising drug use, and more," corporate said.
"With stores in thousands of communities across the country, we know these challenges can, at times, play out within our stores too. We read every incident report you file — it’s a lot."
As a result, it was either close the stores or arm baristas.
Starbucks chose to close 16 stores.
Now in the same week Donald Trump returns to the White House, sanity is returning to Starbucks' management.
CBS reports, "Starbucks is reversing its open-door policy after almost seven years, now requiring that people make a purchase if they want to hang out at its coffee shops or use its restrooms.
"The coffee giant said on Monday that a new code of conduct — which will be posted in all company-owned North American stores — will also ban discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling."
We won’t state flat out that Trump’s return to power and Starbucks’ return to reality are connected, but the timing is compelling, nonetheless.
Although the announcement was bad news for the poop-on-the-sidewalk demographic in large metropolitan areas, it contained good news for paying customers.
Assuming they wait long enough for the excitement to die down after employees wake the derelicts lounging on the furniture and tell them to hit the road.
"Starbucks said it will also start offering free refills of hot or iced coffee on Jan. 27 for customers who decide to stay in a store to drink their beverages."
It added that customers must order their drink "for here" to get the free refill, with the coffee served either in a ceramic mug, glass or clean personal cup that's brought by the customer."
Dividing the purchase price of a Starbucks' cup by two might make stopping there more attractive for budget-conscious coffee drinkers. Not being imposed upon mentally, physically or odor-wise by non-paying "customers" is a bonus.
(A related story may be found here.)
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Mr. Reagan is an in-demand speaker with Premiere Speaker's Bureau. Read Michael Reagan's Reports — More Here.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now With Added Humor!)" Read Michael Shannon's Reports — More Here.