In an open letter to Starbucks customers, Executive Chairman Howard Shultz said that more than 8,000 Starbucks locations would be closing today for anti-bias training due to an incident in Philadelphia where a manager called the police on two black men sitting in the store to wait for a friend. In the letter, Shultz explained the need for the training within the company and the reflection that led them to this point. Walt Disney World Starbucks locations participated in the closures. Managers said that all Cast working the location will go through the “global update” happening at Starbucks today.
Here’s an earlier look at the signage informing guests of the closure.
The Starbucks locations in all of the Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks and Disney Springs are now closed and scheduled to re-open at 7pm this evening after the training is completed.