Western Springs Starbucks Close Early For Racial Bias Training

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Starbucks is closing more than 8,000 stores nationwide Tuesday afternoon for racial bias training, including its Western Springs locations on Burlington Avenue and at 47th and Gilbert. The downtown La Grange location is also closing early.

Closings impact regular Starbucks locations, and they will close at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Licensed locations inside places such as Barnes and Noble and Target may have regular hours.

"For several hours this afternoon, we will close stores and offices to discuss how to make Starbucks a place where all people feel welcome," Starbucks said in a Twitter statement. "Thank you for your patience and support as we renew our promise to make Starbucks an inclusive gathering place for all. See you tomorrow."

The training is a response to the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks after the manager called police on them. On April 12, the manager of a Starbucks in downtown Philadelphia called police on two black men who were seated inside the store. They had not bought anything, and apparently refused to leave. The police arrested the men for loitering, which was captured in a cell phone video.

Patch editor Emily Leayman contributed to this report.

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