There are more than 16,000 Starbucks locations across the United States; chances are, you’ve probably used one of its cafes as a pit stop for a quick restroom break. Usually, it’s a straightforward process — walk in, use the bathroom, and, at most, you may have to ask a barista for a code to unlock the door. But now, your journey to use the facilities may get a little more complicated because the company is rolling out a major change that’ll eliminate this convenient perk.
On Monday, January 13, 2025, Starbucks sent an email to all store managers alerting them that the company is planning on rolling out a new policy requiring all visitors to purchase something in order to use its restrooms.
“Starbucks spaces are for use by our partners and customers — this includes our cafes, patios, and restrooms,” the company outlined in its updated Code of Conduct. Additionally, in a statement shared with The New York Times, Jaci Anderson, a Starbucks spokeswoman, said, “Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct is something most retailers already have and is a practical step that helps us prioritize our paying customers who want to sit and enjoy our cafes or need to use the restroom during their visit.”
Starbucks fans are upset about this new policy. For instance, @Got2gonyc, an Instagram creator who maps out free, clean public restrooms in New York City, shared a post detailing the update. They pointed out that a few years ago Starbucks’ CEO, Howard Schultz, introduced the open-door bathroom policy to combat police harassment and create a more inclusive environment at the company. And now, with the brand scaling back on this promise, many people are calling out the move as performative. “I’m glad somebody remembers. I worked at Starbucks through this and they made so many promises about keeping it an inclusive space where everybody could feel welcome. And it felt like a publicity stunt back then, too,” said one user. Another person commented, “It was never an open-door policy; most of the time, they won’t give you a code unless you buy something.”
Starbucks’ new policy will take effect on January 27, 2025, and many wonder if the company’s shift is a step toward prioritizing paying customers or a retreat from its original stance of curating an inclusive and accessible environment.
