Starbucks Stores In Charlotte And Across The Country Are Closing Tuesday

CHARLOTTE, NC — Starbucks stores in Charlotte and across the country are closing Tuesday. The company is holding anti-bias training after the arrests of two men at a Philadelphia store in April.

Two black men were arrested for not buying anything, and asking to use the restroom. It prompted protests and calls to boycott.

Signs posted on the doors of Starbucks let people know the store is among the more than 8,000 stores closing Tuesday for racial-bias training. Ariana Barone says she goes to the Starbucks on East Boulevard all the time and thinks the training is a good thing.

“Us as individuals, we kind of automatically assume certain things about certain people, so I think it’s an important training that their employees should be aware of,” says Barone.

The training was a response to growing outrage against the coffee chain following the arrests of two black men at a store in Philadelphia in April. They asked to use the bathroom, but were told to leave because they hadn’t bought anything. When the men refused, Starbucks employees called 911 to report them for trespassing. Action NC Political Director Robert Dawkins says he’s happy Starbucks is stepping up.

“Starbucks is taking their concerns to heart and they’re trying to address something, to institutionalize getting rid of bias from their organization,” says Dawkins.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson apologized for what happened and even changed the bathroom policy to no-purchase-necessary.

The Philadelphia Police Commissioner also apologized to the men. They settled with the city for a symbolic $1 each. The men also agreed to a settlement with Starbucks for an undisclosed amount.