San Francisco coffee chain to remove Pride flags from stores to be “more inclusive”
“This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are. Our allyship runs deeper than what is on our walls,” says the CEO.
Mark
There’s uproar in San Francisco over the news that a local coffee chain will be removing its Pride flags.
Phil Jaber and son Jacob launched Philz Coffee in San Francisco in 2003. It now has outlets across the Bay Area, as well as greater Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Chicago.
The Jabers completed a sale of the business, which now has around 75 branches, last year. It’s now owned by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co.
On the weekend, a Change.org petition was launched by unnamed baristas. They expressed unhappiness over a new dictate that they remove Pride flags from stores.
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“Philz Coffee’s recent decision to remove pride flags from their stores has left many team members and customers feeling confounded and unsupported,” they say. “Within Philz’s expressed core values, the company emphasizes its goal to create a ‘customer and team-member focused’ experience. The pride flags within the stores hold deep meaning and value to both staff and visitors, symbolizing that these locations are safe and welcoming spaces for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
“Unity is fundamental to how we operate”
In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, CEO Mahesh Sadarangani appeared to confirm the policy. Sadarangani said Philz, “was working toward creating a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor.”
Sadarangani went on to say that Philz’s “longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged. This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are. Our allyship runs deeper than what is on our walls. It shows up in who we hire, how we treat one another and in our annual Pride Month Unity celebration, which returns this June as it has every year. Unity is fundamental to how we operate.”
Local media outlets report not all stores have implemented the policy. Some staff say they’ve not yet been informed about it.
Customers react to news of the change
As evidenced on its social media, the brand is known for displaying Pride flags in several stores. The video below appeared in January.
Unsurprisingly, many people are now leaving critical comments on the Philz Coffee social media pages.
“Uninstalled my app today and decided no more Philz for myself or orders for my staff,” said one customer. “Removing flags does not create inclusivity, it’s the opposite.”
Some customers say this is the latest way that Philz Coffee has changed in ethos since it was sold to a private equity firm.
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A protest will take place outside Stonewall tomorrow, Thursday, to raise the flag once more.
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