Hairstylist sticks up for homeless man ‘told to leave coffee shop’
ACUSTOMER has complained that Starbucks staff tried to eject a homeless man after complaints about his smell.
Hairstylist Carrie-Anne Gale, from Macclesfield, popped into the branch in Manchester city centre for a hot drink on Tuesday, January 10.
She noticed the homeless man, aged in his 40s, walk into the shop and order a drink at about 4.30pm.
The man sat away from the other customers and had obviously been homeless for some time due to his scruffy appearance.
Carrie-Anne, 23, said she was left shocked when another customer walked up to the man and started complaining he smelt.
An altercation took place, with the other customer repeatedly telling the homeless man he had to leave and shouting he “******* stinks”.
The man then asked Starbucks staff to throw the homeless man out of the cafe.
Carrie-Anne said she was then shocked to witness the Starbucks staff side with the customer.
A teenage girl started to stand up for the man and Carrie-Anne joined in to argue with the baristas.
Following the row, the man ended up staying inside the cafe until he finished his drink.
Carrie-Anne, who owns her own salon, said: “I said ‘He is still a human being he breathes the same air that you do’.
“He has got enough to think about, the fact he has nowhere to live or nowhere to wash.
“Why has Starbucks not going anything set up where we can pay for him to have a drink?
“A massive business like Starbucks should be able to do that.”
She added: “The shop came to a standstill.
“They stopped serving people. They told him to leave again, he got really upset.
“The young girl tried to buy him a sandwich but they refused her. I spoke to the homeless man and said ‘I am sorry you have to be put through this today’, he said ‘Thank you it has made me feel I am worth something.’”
She added: “I hope I can inspire other people to stand up for the homeless.”
Starbucks investigated the incident but backed their staff.
A spokesman said: “We want to provide a welcoming place for everyone in our stores. The safety and security of our partners (employees) and customers is always our highest priority and we support our partners’ approach.”