Starbucks to Open Bathrooms to Public After Racial Controversy Starbucks confirmed on Thursday that it has overhauled its bathroom policy after the incident last month involving the arrests of two black men in a Philadelphia store. On Apr. 12, a Starbucks manager called the police on two black men for waiting inside of the store for a business meeting after being denied use of the bathroom. Since the incident made national headlines, the company has worked to make amends. “We don’t want to become a public bathroom, but we’re going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key…” – Chairman Howard Schultz, via New York Daily News Starbucks also plans to close some 8,200 stores in the U.S. on May 29 for racial bias training.

Starbucks to Open Bathrooms to Public After Racial Controversy Starbucks confirmed on Thursday that it has overhauled its bathroom policy after the incident last month involving the arrests of two black men in a Philadelphia store. On Apr. 12, a Starbucks manager called the police on two black men for waiting inside of the store for a business meeting after being denied use of the bathroom. Since the incident made national headlines, the company has worked to make amends. “We don’t want to become a public bathroom, but we’re going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key…” – Chairman Howard Schultz, via New York Daily News Starbucks also plans to close some 8,200 stores in the U.S. on May 29 for racial bias training.

The coffee chain announced anyone who walks into a store can use the bathrooms, even if they didn’t make a purchase. This is “the absolute right thing” to do, says communication and reputation strategist Deirdre Latour. Starbucks came under fire last month after arresting two black men accused of “loitering” at one of its stores.