Philz Coffee, a San Francisco-born coffee chain, will remove Pride flags from all of its locations, the company said Wednesday, confirming the policy after an online petition criticizing the move spread rapidly on social media.
On Sunday, a group calling itself Philz Coffee Baristas decried in a Change.org petition what it described as “Philz Coffee’s recent decision to remove pride flags from their stores” and asked the company to reverse it.
In an emailed statement to the Chronicle, CEO Mahesh Sadarangani said that Philz “was working toward creating a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor.”
It’s unclear when the flags will be taken down. A rainbow-adorned California flag, as well as other Pride decorations, remained on display at a downtown San Francisco location of Philz Wednesday morning. Employees reached by phone at two other locations, including one in the Castro, said they had not heard of the new policy and that the cafés still had Pride flags in place.
“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,” the Change.org petition reads. “Removing these flags risks alienating a core group of team members and loyal customers who see Philz not just as a coffee shop, but as a place where they are embraced and celebrated for who they are.”
The Chronicle was unable to reach the organizers of the petition through Change.org before publication. By Wednesday afternoon, about 1,500 people had signed the petition. The company’s decision also drew intense criticism on Reddit.
Philz’s “longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged,” Sadarangani said in his 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.”
Sadarangani has been CEO since 2021. Phil Jaber and his son Jacob founded Philz in Jaber’s former corner store on 24th Street in the Mission in 2003. It became known for its cup-at-a-time pourovers and specialty drinks, like iced mojito coffees brewed with fresh mint. The company expanded, eventually moving its headquarters to Oakland and opening more than 60 locations throughout California and in Chicago. Last year, Philz was purchased by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co., which also owns Popeyes Chicken and El Pollo Loco, for a reported $145 million, according to Mission Local, though the company did not provide details of the deal.