[UPDATE] Toilet Terror: Starbucks Closing Its NYC Restrooms To EVERYONE

"No pee for you" (mugsniffer's flickr)

We always feared this day would come, but we can't believe how stinky it is: according to the NY Post, Starbucks' across the city are sick and tired of moochers, vagrants, and vagabonds clogging up their toilets, and have begun closing their restrooms to the public. “Starbucks cannot be the public bathroom in the city anymore,” a source told them. Oh no! How will the Starbucks masturbator complete his mission now?

Starbucks, which has 196 locations spread throughout the city, claims that the main reason for the unofficial policy shift is not because of people continually putting hidden spy cams in the bathrooms—but rather because employees were being forced to wait on lines for restrooms. As a result, the Starbucks on 45th Street and Sixth Avenue has made their bathroom employees-only; two others, at Spring Street and at 67th Street and Columbus Avenue, reduced their restrooms from two to one.

While the shift in bathroom availability is "not a stated policy" of the Starbucks company, the source tells the Post that it is still effectively happening: “They are not eliminating bathrooms, but feeling the pressure of more people...If you are a tourist, you will not know which Starbucks has a bathroom,” the source said. But don't panic! There are still plenty of other options to get your businesses done, from public restroom treasure maps to social networking bathroom apps, from the Guggeneheim to the fine facilities at Bryant Park.

Update: Starbucks has tweeted in response to the story, which has now also been picked up by the NY Times: "hey, we're not closing public bathrooms at all, that's not true." We've contacted Starbucks directly for comment, but as was stated in the original Post piece, "reducing the number of public johns is 'not a stated policy.'"

Update II: Starbucks has gotten back to us about the controversial new "policy," and said that the information being passed around the web this morning is "completely untrue." However, they did add that in certain large stores, some branches have begun dedicating one bathroom to employees only. Here's their statement:

Reports that we are eliminating public restrooms are completely false. Starbucks stores will continue to have public restrooms available. In rare cases at large stores with two restrooms, we have converted one of the restrooms for partner (employee) use.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in Food on November 16, 2011 1:16 PM

Comments [rss]

Pixelwhore

I would never use a Starbucks restroom; bums constantly release themselves on the floors, and some pedestrians tend to neglect the toilets by pissing on top of the seats. PUBLIC RESTROOMS FOR ME... NO SIR.

Nos Feratu

I'm no fan of Starbucks, but I can understand their frustration. If NYC were a civilized place, it would provide free, self-cleaning toilets like cities in developed countries.

Guest

Aren't the toilets where Starbucks gets its water for their awful swill? I still can't believe that someplace could so consistently screw up a cup of joe. Bad coffee with an attitude.

Peanut_Butter

Hold the whip while holding the whip.

Shenk

Completely illegal and not going to happen. If there is a certain number of seats in the establishment they are required by law to have a restroom. Unless they want to give the community a whole bunch of chairs and tables, ain't gonna happen.

splinterfoot

starbucks HATES community. fuck starbucks. shit on the floor.

bggb

I dream of the day the city actually provides enough public toilets for the public to use while they're in public.

Brenda Tobias

Just because I've only ever gone into a Starbucks to use the bathroom doesn't mean they OWE me a bathroom. The lack of public toilets in NYC is startling, and I often wonder how tourists manage. But despite Starbucks ubiquity, it is not a public service.

splicernyc

I can't see them going forward with this.

sarobby

edit *that* coffee.

ed_Ex2

All public establishments in New York must provide free restroom
facilities for the health and safety of staff and customers. The exact
number of restrooms and fixtures requires depends on the occupancy and
type of establishment, as enumerated by the relevant plumbing codes.

JeanneNYC

The problem isn't with the staff and customers. Most Starbucks in NYC have long lines of non-customer tourists waiting to use the restroom, preventing staff and customers from having access to the facilities. I can understand why employees would find this frustrating, since they can't use their own restroom and have to clean up a huge mess left by people who aren't even customers.