California State Sen. Scott Wiener spoke out following a decision by Philz Coffee to remove its pride flag, linking the move to the company’s acquisition by private equity firm Freeman Spogli and raising concerns about the role of corporate ownership in local businesses.
Wiener addressed the issue in a public statement, focusing on what he described as a shift in the company’s approach after the acquisition. Philz Coffee, which originated in San Francisco’s Mission District, expanded across the city and into other markets over time before being acquired.
“Philz Coffee just made a corporate decision to ban the pride flag. This is after Philz was acquired by a private equity firm called Freeman Spogli. Philz, for those who don't know, is a small business, or was a small business that started here in San Francisco in the mission. It spread around the city and then elsewhere. It was an amazing small business, great coffee, really cool baristas, and then unfortunately, got acquired by private equity. And so now we have this private equity firm coming into San Francisco and trying to say that our Phil's coffee locations can't have a pride flag. That is really gross.”
The California Democrat described the company’s origins as a locally rooted business and contrasted that with its current ownership structure.
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Wiener said the transition from a locally owned company to one backed by private equity has influenced decisions affecting individual store locations.
He also pointed to broader concerns about how businesses interact with local communities, particularly in large metropolitan areas such as San Francisco.
Wiener argued that smaller businesses are more likely to reflect the communities they serve.
“It shows, once again, the importance of small business that actually know a community, are rooted in a community, and are attuned to that community, as opposed to giant corporations that honestly don't care.”
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The remarks come as Philz Coffee continues operating locations throughout California and other regions following its expansion beyond San Francisco.
The company’s acquisition by Freeman Spogli marked a shift in ownership from its original founders to a private equity-backed structure.
Wiener further framed the issue in the context of national discussions surrounding the LGBTQ community, stating that business decisions can have broader implications beyond individual store policies.
“And so we have an atmosphere in this country where the LGBTQ community is under assault, and we need our business community to stand with LGBTQ people, and that means more small businesses and just more businesses that actually get the community that they're in.”
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Always living up to his name: Wiener. Here’s what’s really gross: San Francisco and it’s “culture”.
Smart businesses stay out of politics!
Removing a pervert pride flag from their business IS staying out of politics, Tom.
Not always. I read about a family-owned store in Texas that posted a sign: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.” That keeps the woke Leftists out.
I remember when every business had a sign like that. Before woke
Well, my chances of visiting sfo are nil. My chances of buying coffee from a place flying any type of homosexual flag would be zero. So bravo for this company taking a positive stance against the oddball community.
The emergence of this effeminate little class of “Wieners” is a direct result of normal boys halting the beatings (and taking lunch money) back in grade school. It wasn’t “bullying,” per se. It was simply providing opportunities to start acting like a man.
In the 70s this guy would have received frequent course corrections.
Tim W- Your idea of “course corrections” was and is in fact bullying. Criminal assault in fact. “Normal” boys don’t generally act like thugs and lunch-money thieves- those who do are criminals. Or perhaps “normal” has changed since I was a kid…
It seems to me that the rod may have been spared on this one. You can definitely see the result.
Well, is last name…he is homosexual…DUH!
STFU wiener you degenerate P.O.S. !!!
THERE IS NO PLACE IN AMERICA FOR SODOM AND GOMORRAH
Everyone is equal and should be recognized with respect. No group or entity should expect special consideration above and beyond any others.
Something wrong with these people. Outright rejection of what God says. This is unnatural in every way by nature. Not only that it looks funny and not surprising they look funny too.
They do have queer features. Easy to spot specially when they open their mouths.
Without taking a side for or against the LGBTQ community. a business has the right to display and support, or not support, a group it wants to, even it “offends” a particular group. If the community does not agree with the decision of the business, it is not obligated to patronize it with business. If enough customers don’t patronize the business, it fails, or could continue operating at a loss. Either way, to characterize it as “an assault” on a group demonstrates a small minded person who has no idea how capitalism, or business management works.
Screw you Reiner!! You want pride / trans grooming in the coffee shops!! Was good just like California before all the gay trans liberals ruined it!!
Now anyone disagreeing has no say!! Sounds familiar doesn’t it!!
Smart small businesses stay out politics and religion. They should remain neutral and sell their product….If the LGBTQ or the Islamic communities don’t like it, don’t let it effect everyone else….and never apologize for being neutral…..
“And so we have an atmosphere in this country where the LGBTQ community is under assault,… ”
Where?? Tell us where you’re under assault! You can’t because you’re not! On the other hand, y pi u think your special and actual have to have a ‘flag’ flying over every business, school, and government building just to show that you have beaten them. Mostly you just want our children, and for any reason is acceptable to you. Perverts!!
How about some pride for heterosexuals and normalcy?
It is typical of lefties to mis-characterize situations and policies. This gay-guy framed the situation at hand as an “assault” rather than a “protective backlash” to the LGBT#$%& actual assault, that has been in effect since … it seems like forever.
We NEED a “ren days of darkness” with the USMC taking point and with 2000 principal arraests across 50 states and DC
Take a good look at this guy. I can guarantee you that he’s got child porn on his computer! And get rid of the rainbow on their so called flag and give it back to us. The rainbow original represented hope and happiness, which is absolutely the opposite of the never ending complaining of the gay community who has made an industry out of grooming our children. Give them a new flag that represents their lifestyle, a guy stand behind another guy who is bent over! There, no thank you necessary!
Would LOVE to join the “assault” against that LGBTCRAP nonsense. But I live in a conservative, traditional-values community, and they don’t seem willing to REALLY get assaulted. Otherwise they would be here.