STARBUCKS’ LATEST PERK
8,000 U.S. stores close today for anti-bias training
Starbucks will close more than 8,000 stores nationwide today for anti-bias training, which will cost the coffee chain millions of dollars — but it’s scoring big points with many patrons.
“I think it’s good they’re having it. Why not?” said Dana Navalance, 26, of South Boston. “If anything, it’ll make people more conscious of the types of patrons that come in.”
Jennifer Grant, 30, of Haverhill said the closures likely will give some of the mom and pop coffee shops a chance to bring in more money.
“Everyone needs to close for training sometimes,” Grant said. “It’s good for the small coffee places.”
Tony Tibbets of Boston said although he’s more of a Dunkin’ Donuts person, he thinks the training can only help the work environment.
“Any type of training is always a good thing to do,” he said.
“I was a Marine and had trainings every week. You can learn a lot.”
But John Greeley, 73, of South Boston said he was disappointed the Starbucks on East Broadway in Southie would be closed today.
“They wouldn’t let me stay there if I wasn’t spending any money,” Greeley said, though he added all people should be treated fairly, no matter their race.
The company announced its decision to offer training to 175,000 employees after two black men were arrested at one of its stores in Philadelphia last month.
Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were asked to leave after one was denied access to the bathroom. They were arrested by police minutes after they sat down to await a business meeting. The incident was recorded by cellphones and went viral.
Nelson and Robinson settled with Starbucks this month for an undisclosed sum and an offer of a free education. They also reached a deal with the city of Philadelphia for a symbolic $1 each and a promise from officials to establish a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs.
Starbucks has since announced anyone can use its restrooms even if they are not buying anything.
“Our hope is that these learning sessions and discussions will make a difference within and beyond our stores,” said Starbucks executive vice president of U.S. retail Rossann Williams. “Starbucks is a company built on nurturing the human spirit, and it’s on us to harness our scale and expertise to do right by the communities we serve.”
Kanishk Karanawat, 28, of Jersey City, N.J., visiting Boston yesterday, said he supports the racial sensitivity training, but hopes it does not cause people to flood the shops without purchasing anything.
“It’s good they’re encouraging people to come sit in the shops,” Karanawat said, “but it might be a bad thing if I don’t get a seat.”
But Nadja Barnett, 55, who was visiting Boston from Ohio, said the move shows dedication by Starbucks to ensuring last month’s episode will not become the norm.
“My kids spend time in Starbucks doing their homework,” Barnett said. “It could have been my kids.”
According to calculations by MarketWatch, the closures will cost about $12 million.