San Francisco coffee shop suddenly announces its yanking all Pride flags as staff revolt

A beloved coffee chain founded in San Francisco is removing Pride flags and other flag décor from its stores, the company announced Wednesday.“[Philz’s] longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged,” Mahesh Sadarangani, who took over as CEO from the founders in 2021, said in a statement.“This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are.

Our allyship runs deeper than what is on our walls.It shows up in who we hire, how we treat one another, and in our annual Pride Month Unity celebration, which returns this June as it has every year.

Unity is fundamental to how we operate.”The change became public after a Change.org petition — which has garnered more than 2,300 signatures — demanded the policy be reversed and urged Philz to “proudly display the Pride flags once again,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported.“Philz Coffee’s recent decision to remove Pride flags from their stores has left many team members and customers feeling confounded and unsupported,” the petition states.“The Pride flags within the stores hold deep meaning and value to both staff and visitors, symbolizing that these locations are safe and welcoming spaces for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story The coffee chain, with more than 60 locations primarily concentrated in California and additional shops in Chicago and other areas, has built a strong following.The San Francisco-based company, known for its customized blends and pour-over method, was founded in 2003 by Phil Jaber and his son, Jacob Jaber, in the city’s Mission District.The first location opened at 24th and Folsom streets after Phil converted his corner grocery store into a dedicated coffee shop.Philz C...