Java giant Starbucks is famous for its warm, inviting environment and for the fact that the company has locations virtually everywhere.
But the coffee king is facing a new problem that is a major threat to its business model: Crime.
Rising crime rates and violence in mostly Democrat-run cities is forcing the company to close 16 locations, with more slated for closure soon, The Wall Street Journal reports.
After reviewing incident reports from employees involving crime and drug use, the company has decided some locations just aren’t safe.
“We read every incident report you file—it’s a lot,” wrote U.S. operations leads Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson in a message to U.S. employees last week. “We cannot serve as partners if we don’t first feel safe at work,” they said, referring to the company’s term for its employees.
A disgusted CEO Howard Schulz says “this is just the beginning.”
“America has become unsafe,” he said, blasting far-left soft-on-crime policies that many have blamed for the rampant increases.
“It has shocked me that one of the primary concerns that our retail partners have is their own personal safety,” Schultz said of conversations with staffers.
“And then we heard the stories that go along with it about what happens in our bathrooms, the issue of mental illness, the issue of homelessness, and the issue of crime,” he continued.
“Starbucks is a window into America,” he added. “We have stores in every community, and we are facing things … the stores were not built for. We are listening to our people and closing stores.”
“At the local, state, and federal level, these governments across the country, and leaders — mayors and governors, city councils — have abdicated their responsibility in fighting crime and addressing mental illness,” Schultz said.
Seattle talk show host Ari Hoffman added: “Schultz blamed elected leaders of the Democrat cities where the stores are closing…”
Schultz blamed elected leaders of the Democrat cities where the stores are closing "at the local state and federal level, these governments… and leaders, mayors & governors & city councils have advocated their responsibility in fighting crime & addressing mental illness.
— Ari Hoffman
That said, some believe the coffee chain is being somewhat hypocritical.
As an advocate for progressive policies and groups, the company posted a tweet last year in support of the Black Lives Matter-linked protests during the summer of 2020 following the death of George Floyd, many of which turned violent.
“We witnessed man protests over the course of last summer in our hometown of Seattle. The Black Lives Matter protests, which were overwhelmingly peaceful, sought to protest systemic racism and acts of police brutality,” the company said.
Conservative commentator Mike Cernovich responded: “Starbucks tweeted out support for the summer riots. Now it’s happening to them. It’s always ‘different’ when it’s your business impacted.”
Starbucks tweeted out support for the summer riots. Now it’s happening to them. It’s always “different” when it’s your business impacted.
— Cernovich
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