As I mentioned in the post during in which I apparently transgressed, I use to meet once a week with a small group of knitters at a local Starbucks. We knitted, chatted, and yes, bought coffee or food items during the course of an hour or longer, though not all of us ordered something at every visit. We were a group of middle aged women (one of us was even black), but we never had anyone tell us to leave. I live in a suburban area, but I’ve visited urban Starbucks locations where the restrooms weren’t labeled “for paying customers,” nor did they use keys/key codes for restroom access. I’m hearing about this Starbucks phenomenon for the first time, though the policy certainly makes sense in areas where there are large homeless populations.
The last time I specifically stopped at a restaurant because my bladder was sending me urgent signals, I was driving home after having visited my D who lives and works in NOVA. At a suburban Subway restaurant in Fredericksburg, Va., I trotted rather swiftly past the counter and into the ladies room without stopping to ask permission. However, since it was 1:30 in the afternoon, and I’d not yet had lunch, I stopped at the counter and ordered a six inch sub and a fountain drink. I wasn’t particularly hungry because I have diabetic gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying syndrome), and breakfast was still standing by me. I bought the sub because I would have been embarrassed to leave without having bought something. I only ate a few bites. I should have just bought a bottled water.
I would not support a boycott of Starbucks coffee shops. I do applaud their planned nationwide shop closure to address the issues that have recently made the news, even though it will cost them a considerable sum in revenue to do so. While they’re at it though, I wish they would take time to re-evaluate the quality of their product. I like a bold, but smooth cup of coffee or cappuccino. Is it just me, or does their coffee seem, well, bitter (scorched)?
This is off topic, but I’m somewhat saddened about the fact that we still don’t adequately address the issue of homelessness in our country. Many of them are apparently military veterans, mentally ill, or both. That they have no reliable locations for such fundamental needs as toileting is a shame. Usually, those who stay at shelters overnight must leave the facilities by a certain time each morning. They often wander the streets until they can return to the shelters (given there is an available bed for the night). It’s illegal for them to relieve themselves in public, but restroom facilities open to the non-homeless are often closed to them (which is certainly understandable). I no longer can be certain what can be discussed and what can’t on the forum, so if homelessness is too political, I’m sure it will not be permissible to start a thread on the subject. It appears many businesses gatekeep their restrooms to discourage the indigent population from frequenting their facilities. But if homelessness weren’t such a huge problem, I doubt the few regular customers who decline to make a purchase during a particular restroom visit would prompt restaurants to deny access to the public.