Generally the truth is somewhere in-between. These guys wanted to use the restroom. Once denied, in an act of protest they sat there and refused to leave. But probably the same latitude was not given to them that would have been given to a sophisticated looking white person.

 

I again want to state Starbucks probably denies 1,000s of people a day from using their restrooms without being a paying customer.

 

If they have bathrooms open to where you don't have to ask I find that hard to believe given how busy they are that someone is paying any attention to that in most cases.

I've had meetings at those places as well, specifically Panera. Always bought at least a coffee. Every single time. It's common courtesy for use of the space IMO.

 

I agree, but it was quick in and out those times for me. :lol2:

If you went into an Applebee's or an O'Charley's and sat at a bar table and pulled out a book and just started reading, politely declined any service from the waiteress/waiter, do you not think after a while the manager would ask you to purchase something or please leave?

Did the men inform any of the employees that they were there to meet Mr. Yaffe?

If they have bathrooms open to where you don't have to ask I find that hard to believe given how busy they are that someone is paying any attention to that in most cases.

 

In most cases, maybe not. But there are about 900,000,000 Starbucks so I feel good there are a fair amount asked to leave on a daily basis :lol2: I guess you can call it profiling, but these rules were put in place to keep out the homeless or those loitering.

If you went into an Applebee's or an O'Charley's and sat at a bar table and pulled out a book and just started reading, politely declined any service from the waiteress/waiter, do you not think after a while the manager would ask you to purchase something or please leave?

 

If it were a busy venue, most certainly.

If it were a busy venue, most certainly.

 

Right. And I can only imagine how busy a downtown location in a big city like Philly is on a daily basis. Hell the one in the Newport Target is always packed. :lol2:

Starbucks must put crack cocaine in the coffee. I have never seen one not packed.

 

Some places still have restrooms where you have to have a key to use it. Especially up in northern states.

Did the men inform any of the employees that they were there to meet Mr. Yaffe?

 

One of the men, Donte Robinson, told Robin Roberts that he told an employee that the two were there to meet someone at 4:45. It was approximately 4:35 when they sat down. 911 call was made at 4:37. Also according to Robinson, they were there to meet Mr. Yaffe concerning a real estate deal.

If you went into an Applebee's or an O'Charley's and sat at a bar table and pulled out a book and just started reading, politely declined any service from the waiteress/waiter, do you not think after a while the manager would ask you to purchase something or please leave?

 

What if you told the waiter/waitress you were meeting someone soon?

It’s so funny – the weekend this story happened I went to lunch with 2 other women at the Crestview Hills McAllister’s right next to Starbucks. After lunch we walked to the ‘bucks bc one woman wanted a coffee.

 

Starbucks was packed as usual but the other woman and I landed a seat and sat there chit chatting drinking our McAllister’s sweet teas while we waited 20 minutes for the other person to get the coffee.

 

We went completely unnoticed by the Starbucks staff, nothing was ever said, no dirty looks.

 

My college kids and their friends go to various Starbucks all the time to study.... occasionally they do not purchase anything. Nothing has ever been said.

 

The Philly example was total profiling imo. Nice to see Starbz address it.

What if you told the waiter/waitress you were meeting someone soon?

 

I'd assume their assumption would be that you'd be dining there once your guest arrived. Even still, those tables are for paying customers. If you aren't willing to buy something they have every right to ask you to leave.

I'd assume their assumption would be that you'd be dining there once your guest arrived. Even still, those tables are for paying customers. If you aren't willing to buy something they have every right to ask you to leave.

 

I've been in that situation before--waiting for someone at an eating establishment--and I've waited for the other person to get there before ordering anything. If I was asked to order or leave before the person got there, I'd leave.

 

Assuming that Mr. Robinson informed an employee that they were meeting someone, I think this was profiling.

I've been in that situation before--waiting for someone at an eating establishment--and I've waited for the other person to get there before ordering anything. If I was asked to order or leave before the person got there, I'd leave.

 

I think this was profiling.

 

Even a drink?

 

And I'm sure you've told them you were waiting for someone, right?

Even a drink?

 

And I'm sure you've told them you were waiting for someone, right?

 

I always drink water at a restaurant, so I'm not sure that matters one way or another.

 

Yes, I've told them I'm waiting for someone and have never been asked to leave. But If I were asked to order or leave, I'd probably leave.

 

I'm just saying that if this guy told an employee that he was meeting someone, and he says he did, then I think this is profiling.