Starbucks proves it was never really a 'third place'
Briefly

Starbucks's new code of conduct reveals the brand's shift from being a community space to reinforcing its identity as a luxury brand, restricting access to paying customers.
The acknowledgment that ‘Starbucks spaces are for use by our partners and customers’ suggests a narrowing of access compared to the inclusive policies of the past.
The buy-something-or-leave policy reinstates a formality previously seen as undue, reversing a trend toward making their cafes accessible to all, regardless of purchases.
This latest policy change comes after previous backlash over a racially charged incident, demonstrating Starbucks’s struggle to balance brand identity with communal values.
Read at Fast Company
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