Starbucks has changed its open door policy.

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Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Starbucks has implemented a policy that requires people to make a purchase if they want to hang out in their cafes or use the restroom. It’s part of a strategy the new CEO hopes customers will embrace at a time of declining profits.

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

3 things you should know:

1. This represents a reversal of an open restroom policy in 2018 that the company implemented after two Black men who did not order anything were arrested at a Philadelphia location while waiting for a business meeting.
2. This is one of the changes new CEO Brian Niccol has made to improve the coffee giant’s poor performance, with sales steadily declining for months. His other priorities include faster beverage delivery and a simpler menu.
3. The Wall Street Journal reports that the policy will be implemented later this month at Starbucks’ more than 11,000 stores in North America and will require three hours of training for staff.

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Finding public toilets can be difficult

It will undoubtedly pose a hurdle for people who may rely on public toilets more than others, such as those with special medical needs or pregnant people. This has long been a problem for people in the US and has inspired entire Instagram accounts dedicated to helping people find accessible bathrooms in New York City.

The loss of third places

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

Go deeper into Starbucks’ problems with NPR: