Starbucks to close 29 Central Mass. stores today for anti-bias training
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This Starbucks on West Boylston Street will join more than 8,000 other Starbucks stores to close for anti-bias training this afternoon.
Nearly 30 Central Massachusetts Starbucks locations will close for several hours this afternoon after an incident involving two African American men in a Philadelphia coffee shop that went viral brought backlash against the company.
Starbucks announced the closures Tuesday morning in an open letter on the company’s website from executive chairman Howard Schultz.
Globally, the company will close more than 8,000 stores to conduct employee training on biases and the coffee shop’s reformed policy on non-paying customers.
In April, two black men were arrested after the manager of the Philadelphia Starbucks called police because the men had not purchased anything while waiting for someone else to arrive.
“The situation was reprehensible and does not represent our company’s mission and enduring values,” Schultz wrote.
There are 39 Starbucks locations in Central Massachusetts, most of which are located between Worcester and the MetroWest area. Ten of those are located in supermarkets and are operated by Starbucks business partners, and those stores won't be closing.
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