The open-bathroom Starbucks policy may hurt the company’s profits, according to Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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“The customers are not going to necessarily be able to buy their cup of coffee, so some of the Starbucks [stores] may find some challenges with their year-end dollar amounts,” King said during an interview on FOX Business’ “Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast” on Tuesday.
The Seattle-based coffeehouse chain announced its open-to-all policy earlier this month in a message e-mailed to employees.
“Any person who enters our spaces, including patios, cafes and restrooms, regardless of whether they make a purchase, is considered a customer,” Starbucks said.
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Starbucks closed more than 8,000 U.S. stores for a portion of the day on Tuesday to allow employees to undergo racial-bias and sensitivity training.
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The company drew criticism in April after a manager at a Philadelphia store called the police to complain about two African-American men who were meeting a friend. Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson were briefly arrested after they stayed at the store without making a purchase. The company soon apologized.
King said adopting her late uncle’s philosophy on race relations will help America evolve as a community of one.
“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools,” she said.
