Why Are Some NYC Starbucks Locations Closing Their Restrooms?
- Posted on November 16, 2011 at 4:20pm by
Becket Adams
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In an unexpected move, many Starbucks locations in New York have decided to convert their restrooms from “public” to “employees only.”
It’s not a company-wide change and has only been implemented in a few New York locations so far.
“Starbucks cannot be the public bathroom in the city anymore,” one source told the New York Post.
The stated reason for closing the bathrooms to the public is that “Starbucks’ own employees have to wait in lines — competing with customers filled with Pumpkin Spice Latte and other trendy drinks — when they take a bathroom break.”
The alternative is that they can cut in line, but one can only guess how well that would go over with customers.
Therefore the solution has been to make the bathrooms “employees only.”
A Starbucks on 45th Street and Sixth Avenue has already implemented the change while some other Starbucks have opted to reduce their restrooms from two to one.
“They are not eliminating bathrooms, but feeling the pressure of more people,” the source said.
Good luck if you’re a tourist.
“If you are a tourist, you will not know which Starbucks has a bathroom,” the source said.
How can they do this?
Although it is a citywide policy that any food establishment with more than 19 seats is required by law to have a public restroom, the typical Starbucks in New York City has fewer than 20 seats.
But one can’t help but think there’s more to this story.
At one particular Starbucks, which closed a public bathroom this year, a worker told the Post that the cost of fixing it two or three times a week wasn’t worth it.
“We closed off the public bathroom because it was just too messy,” the worker said.
What in the world could possibly be causing that kind of mess? Do they really have that many customers that having a public restroom has become a financial burden?
What sudden spike in foot traffic would cause these Starbucks to implement what can only be described as an incredibly inconvenient policy?
Oh wait, guess what else is going on in lower Manhattan (green markers represent Starbucks locations):
Source: Starbucks Store Locator (www.starbucks.com/store-locator)
Recall that since the occupy movement began in September, it has cost local stores and restaurants nearly half a million dollars in lost business.
But worst yet is the fact that local businesses have been forced to spend extra on extra toilet paper, cleaning supplies and repairs because “the tent dwellers turn bathrooms into personal washrooms.”
Although the source that spoke to the Post did not explicitly state that OWS protesters were one of the reasons for closing off the bathrooms to the public, one can’t help but speculate.
Many — if not all — of these stores existed well before the demonstrations began. It seems odd that, all of a sudden, Starbucks’ business has picked up so much that they cannot possible accommodate public restrooms any longer.
(h/t Newser)
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Comments (63)
Git-R-Done
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 4:20amI can see why businesses only allow paying customers to use their restrooms.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 7:29amThese protesters are spoiled brats and probably ARE customers of Starbucks.
Report Post »Cyanide
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 8:13amThey probably are customers of Starbucks. All the more reason not to feel sorry because they have no job or whatever, since they have enough money for a decaf mocah latte.
Report Post »Who would Jesus bomb?
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 3:30pmof course it’s because of the ows bums. you don’t need a degree in astrophysics to figure that out.
Report Post »Sandy In Indy
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 5:40pmI do not understand why mommie bloomberg does not do something about this group. Has he not put two and two together that a loss in revenues = loss in taxes the city receives from income tax? Plus, there is no regard for the people going to work by foot or car that pay taxes. The smell, the damage to the area along with the residents who pay property taxes and have to deal with this and the city paying to clean up after these dumb-butts.
Mommy dearest bloomy needs to get his act together and do his job!
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 2:40amI’ve worked at S$ for 7 yrs (some call me a loser, but I loved the customers & liked the job). Worked at another coffee house before & after S$. Worked at In-N-Out Burger for 6 years. We had all the dispensers broken/stolen, sinks stolen, toilets broken. That WAS in Santa Ana (lots of gangs & illegals – actually the counterfeit capital of the U.S. according to local Fed employees.)
There are so many people that destroy public restrooms. Primarily gang afilitated teens. But, when I managed a shop in Laguna Beach (expensive tourist area), the problem was homeless/bums. I was always the one to clean what I could or eventually need to pay for a plumber to get the entire Times or Register out as well as the rest of the filth.
I decided to ask for token devices installed. VERY difficult to get young employees to dispense tokens to customers only. Eventually tokens all disappeared because “well meaning” customers gave them to the people that begged for them. They also fit the parking meters in a town full of them.
Bottom line, there’s just enough people that cant behave or be a respectful member of society. It costs a lot of money, time, & energy.
My literal desire is for televised lethal injections and DO IT for every person on death row. It’ll save so much money and be the only real deterrant these type of people understand. I’m willing to take on the sin of pushing the syringe. God’s got a lot to explain anyway.
End of angry rant. Sorry folk
Report Post »wbaranowski
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 1:38amOccupoop Wall Street strikes, again. (yes, news outlets, you have my permission to call them “Occupoopers”).
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:29amLMAO……….good name for the OWS……..hehehehehe
Report Post »Clara T.
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 12:32amA public women’s restroom can be really gross. Just think: Used maxi pads stuck to the side of the stall. True story.
But whether or not OWS is the ‘real’ reason, I can’t really blame them. I would do the same.
Report Post »saxon6732
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:59pmMore Toilet Paper have you seen the videos these protesters don’t even wipe.
Report Post »UFOCPrez
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:54pmLast year while in Russia (Gorky Park) I had to use the rest room. I walked in the door, paid at the window, rolled paper off a common roll by the front door and then went in and did my business. Why? Because anything “free” gets trashed in this country or any other country. Capitalism is the answer to preserving private property. We would still have Black Rhinos if someone was allowed to make money from owning them.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 8:39amThe same thing happened to me in Prague. I paid the attendent who gave me a package of TP. The restrooms were very clean. The attendent that kept the restroom clean gets a tip. Ah private enterprise.
Report Post »Seede
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 8:56amYou make a good point. If people do pay it would keep overhead down and make for a cleaner restroom.
Report Post »aapatriot
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:49pmPeople are very inconsiderate in public restrooms even when a protest isn’t going on. They plug the toilet, miss the bowl, steal the paper products.etc. It is a big job to keep a privy clean. I don‘t blame any business that doesn’t want the upkeep.
Report Post »Cavy2see
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 11:27pmI would never steal the paper…or purposely plug toilet…but accidents do happen…esp. when older…and little ones…but these Occcoinsulters are not the best of guests…so for the time being…paying for toilet use should stop the mess expense…2.00 to use toilet…they want a taste of europe everyone there pays to use toilets…
Report Post »spacemanspiff54321
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:34pmThey would make Soylent Green taste bad.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 2:24pmI think you just gave your age away..lol :)
Report Post »Shawna Lee
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:29pmSTarbucks is the best invention on the planet, they can do no wrong, they are definitly above god.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 12:51pmTheir coffee smells and tastes like skunk pee (don’t ask, ’cause I won’t tell)
Report Post »MUDFLAPS
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:11pmcome on starbucks, these are all your little commie buddies. Let them go in and crap all over your floors and deposit their drug waste in your cans. Hell you have made millions on them so it would be good to give back. Maybe a place to wipe after their little sex events in your bathrooms. come on, they are your buddies.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:02pmI wish the retail company I manage for would do this. 10% that use our bathrooms during daylight hours steal from us, and upwards of 50% do after dark. Add to this that they keep vandalizing them with graffiti –if they don’t happen to have a marker, they use knives or keys– and they are just low class pigs that, it would seem, should still be using bushes and wiping with leaves.
Way to go Starbucks!
Report Post »rdietz7
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:41pmI get why they are doing this but can’t Starbucks afford an employee bathroom?
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 10:11pmCause they cant find employees to clean that filth for 7 bucks an hour
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:22pmI’ve put Port-a-pottys on wheels and will be rolling them on the sidewalks in front of all those Starbucks beginning tomorrow morning a 5 AM. I’ve hired 46 roller assistants to work the potty duty and collect $2.00 for each patron for 1 minute of use (includes tp). Am expecting gross of about $15K a day or about a half million per month.
Hey OCCUPIERS, please don’t hate me—just because I’m a CAPITALIST.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 10:02pmDo not forget the final paper work. Most of these animals use their hands.
Report Post »RossPoldark
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 10:09pmIn Some European countries, they charge people to use the public toilets. They employ bathroom attendants to keep the toilets clean. Hey, if some people are pigs, and cannot clean up after themselves, then start charging for public toilet use. With the money made, toilet attendants can be hired to maintain the toilets. I have never begrudged having to pay to use a public toilet in Europe.
Report Post »Shawna Lee
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 11:27pmYou are retarded.
Report Post »Glenn Jericho
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:15pmMost of the Starbucks in Europe have eliminated this problem by printing a code on the bottom of your receipt which you type into a number pad which opens the bathroom door. For the most part, the bathrooms are pristine!
Report Post »Dabldo
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:58pmAnd have it only be good for a half hour or so you don’t sell it when you walk out.
Report Post »RossPoldark
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 10:10pmBrilliant!
Report Post »Clara T.
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 12:35amThat’s an insanely good idea.
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:44pmDon’t anyone ever compare the sorry, disgusting, slime ball protesters that they are intelligent enough to protest anything much less vote. Animals…as the family goes, so goes the nation.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:43pmStarbucks Chicken have come to Roost,and Crap,and pee,and wash up……….Paraphrase Rev. Wright.
Report Post »redgypsy
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:22pmIt boggles the mind that the occupiers didn’t think of these things. Did they even bring their own tents?? “Hey, man, let’s go occupy. No, we don’t need no stuff–everybody’ll just give it to us, ’cause, you know, they’re part of the same 99% as us.” Wait, no, that would be, “’cause, you know, they’re the 1% and they can afford it!”
Report Post »Dangerous, animalistic idiots.
Damn_Lucky
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:35pmFinally a reason for the Dog catchers………No offense to Dogs.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:53pmBe Damn Lucky if the Dog Don’t pee on your bed for That Comment! AHHA
Report Post »iamcrm
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:18pmStarbucks is the big liberal hypocrite. They support these animals, but only when they’re trashing YOUR company.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:28pmI may be wrong but I think Starbucks are franchised. Just because the founders are tree huggers doesn’t mean the owners of the individual stores are. But, I may be wrong about the franchising.
Report Post »chimarathon
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:34pmNot all stores are franchised, and most aren’t.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:29pmmost ny’s are animals.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:54pmIs it any surprise? Society, especially in New Yawk, has really gotten ugly. And too stupid to realize that there are consequences.
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:15pmFox had a business owner on that had a business across the street from the occupiers. She said they ripped the sink right off the wall and trashed and damaged her bathroom. She had to call a locksmith to put a lock on it.
She said if her customers wanted to use the restroom, they had to ask her for the key. But, most her customers were afraid of the occupiers and stayed away costing her money.
Starbucks will re-open the bathrooms to the public when the occupiers give up.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:25pmSomeone should be a good capitalist and bring in portable pay-per-use showers. $1.00 per two minutes of water sounds reasonable for the protesters to pay. Oh wait, they would probably vandalize and destroy them in less than a day.
Report Post »netmail
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:14pmJobs Americans Don’t Want: #1 is a Restaurant Bathroom Tech at an OWS site Starbucks. Yeah, I could go along with that.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:04pmThe OWS idiots already defecate on the street like dogs. Perhaps they should just throw a roll of TP out into the street and watch the zombies attack it.
Report Post »seldomscene
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:32pmThat is sad. But, that’s funny right there!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:44pmStarbucks don’t need restrooms. New York is going to paint old cars to look like police cars and people will just take a dump on them. Government thinking at its best.
Report Post »green_manalishi
Posted on November 17, 2011 at 12:17amIt would be easier just to drop toilet paper on Zucotti Park and then flush the lot of Occupy Waste Matter down the sewar
Report Post »Yeah_Buddy
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:01pmBigbucks didn’t have to get so pissie about their dieretic liquids being expellled by their customer base.
Report Post »chimarathon
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 7:13pmI worked at a *$’s for over two years and no one should have to deal with the crap that baristas have to clean up/walk in to. I can’t imagine how bad it was around OWS.
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 6:59pmThey need to do what some bathrooms in gas stations do… lock the door and make people use tokens to use the bathroom. All customers can get a token when asked.
If Occupy people want to be a customer there first (and pay, not demand free food), then the customer can use the bathroom.
Report Post »HotFixIt
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 6:56pmOh goodie, can’t wait to hear about that first trash can blowing through the front window of a Starbucks in retalliation.
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 8:49pmDo you think that John Stewart would then really understand how serious the situation had become if a trashcan, not a bench or a brick, but a real live trashcan went through the front window of a Starbucks, not a Mc Dee’s or a dunkin doughnut, but an actual Starbucks window? Gee, I hope he finally ‘gets’ what this movement really is if that finally happens.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 9:12pmWhat if Oscar The Grouch was in the trash can shaking up with the Food Deprived Puppet?
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