Starbucks has decided to end its open-to-all policy and will now require customers to make a purchase if they wish to stay or use the bathrooms. according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
Key Facts:
• Starbucks will begin enforcing a new code of conduct at over 11,000 North American stores starting January 27.
• This change reverses a 2018 policy that allowed anyone to use store spaces and restrooms without buying anything.
• The original open-door policy came after two men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks that year.
• Baristas will ask non-paying visitors to leave, and free water will be given only to customers and their companions.
• The move comes as Starbucks tries to boost sales, restore customer traffic, and improve store safety.
The Rest of The Story:
Starbucks adopted its open-door policy in 2018 after an incident where two men were arrested for trespassing.
That event led Starbucks to close its U.S. stores for one day of racial-sensitivity training.
The company settled with the two men, though details about the settlement were not shared publicly.
Over time, however, some stores struggled with increased crime and loitering.
The new code of conduct aims to clarify who can stay in cafes and how to handle disruptive visitors.
Starbucks leaders say this shift will help address safety concerns for employees and customers.
The company is also restoring certain amenities, such as condiment bars and comfortable seating, while offering free refills for paying customers who stick around.
May 2018: “New Starbucks policy, no purchase needed to sit in cafes”
July 2022: “Starbucks to close 16 US stores because of crimes, rampant drug use”
Aug 2022: “‘Woke’ NYC Starbucks now a haven for junkies, drunks and homeless”
Today: Starbucks abandons its no purchase policy pic.twitter.com/GBACEHNyRw
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) January 13, 2025
Commentary:
It’s about time Starbucks made this change.
Their response to the 2018 arrest went off the rails from the beginning, with the store closures for “sensitivity training” and an open-door policy that anyone could see was a risk.
Letting non-paying individuals occupy the café and use the bathrooms was a nice gesture but bad for business.
It was a classic example of leftist virtue signaling that ended in real problems for staff and paying customers.
Hopefully this new approach under Starbucks’s new leadership steers the chain toward better business decisions instead of political ones.
The Bottom Line:
Starbucks is returning to a more traditional approach where you must make a purchase to stay.
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This signals a practical step toward a safer, more customer-focused café experience.