{"id":2591797,"date":"2026-04-16T22:08:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T02:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coffee-shop-chain-that-originated-in-san-francisco-defends-plan-to-remove-pride-flags-from-stores-decor\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T22:10:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T02:10:27","slug":"coffee-shop-chain-that-originated-in-san-francisco-defends-plan-to-remove-pride-flags-from-stores-decor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coffee-shop-chain-that-originated-in-san-francisco-defends-plan-to-remove-pride-flags-from-stores-decor\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee Shop Chain That Originated in San Francisco Defends Plan to Remove &#8216;Pride&#8217; Flags from Stores&#8217; Decor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcoffee-shop-chain-that-originated-in-san-francisco-defends-plan-to-remove-pride-flags-from-stores-decor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2591797&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Philz Coffee, a San Francisco-born chain, announced it would remove Pride flags from all its locations in an effort to create a single, unifying artwork adn decor that signals a safe, inclusive space for everyone. The decision sparked online backlash,including a Change.org petition from supporters who said the move left LGBTQIA+ customers and staff feeling unsupported.<\/p>\n<p>A San Francisco Chronicle report quoted Philz CEO Mahesh Sadarangani saying the goal was to deliver a more consistent,inclusive experience across stores by removing various flags and decor. The Chronicle later published a confidential memo to employees explaining that the company remains supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community, but wants one cohesive design to represent diversity. The piece frames the issue as a business decision aimed at appealing to a broader customer base, balancing Pride symbolism with the need to attract future customers outside a single demographic. Background notes include Philz\u2019s founding by phil Jaber in 2002, its growth beyond San Francisco, and its 2025 acquisition by Freeman Spogli.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Godfather might have put it best: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s nothing personal. It&rsquo;s strictly business.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>That was the message a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >coffee shop chain born<\/a> in San Francisco is putting out about its decision to remove &ldquo;pride&rdquo; flags from its stores&rsquo; decor &mdash; a decision that sparked outrage among the kind of gay activists who start online petitions to try to bully private companies into doing their whim.<\/p>\n<p>And Philz Coffee isn&rsquo;t backing down.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lgbt-activists-rage-after-coffee-chain-removes-its-rainbow-flags\/\" title=\"LGBT Activists Rage After Coffee Chain Removes Its Rainbow ...\">move spread rapidly<\/a> on social media.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, a group calling itself Philz Coffee&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ob9w3Gx2QC\">pic.twitter.com\/Ob9w3Gx2QC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sfchronicle\/status\/2042043317836243241?\">April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\"); 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 \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lgbt-activists-rage-coffee-chain-removes-rainbow-flags\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">made headlines last<\/a> week after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.change.org\/p\/urge-philz-coffee-to-keep-pride-flags-up?source_location=search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Change.org petition<\/a> went live, signed &ldquo;Philz Coffee Baristas,&rdquo;&nbsp; claiming that the decision to remove the flags &ldquo;has left many team members and customers feeling confounded and unsupported.&rdquo; They would feel less confounded and more supported, apparently, if Philz kept the flags as a sign that it would &ldquo;reaffirm its commitment to diversity and inclusion, aligning its values with the community it serves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As the attention grew, an April 8 report in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/philz-coffee-pride-flags-ban-22195803.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco Chronicle<\/a> quoted Philz Coffee CEO Mahesh Sadarangani saying in a statement that Philz &ldquo;was working toward creating a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, the newspaper published a follow-up report noting that the decision would stand. The report was headlined: &ldquo;Confidential Philz Coffee memo: Despite backlash, Pride flags are still coming down.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The article detailed a company memo to employees &mdash; marked &ldquo;confidential&rdquo; &mdash; that explained its rationale for removing the flags.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Over the last year, we have been working on custom Philz artwork to set the expectations for a safe and inclusive space for all, including our LGBTQIA+ community,&rdquo; the memo stated. &ldquo;We want one piece of artwork that unifies all of Philz, that openly showcases our commitment to honoring the uniqueness and diversity of each person who enters our place.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The memo, written by Sadarangani, also said that the company is not &ldquo;mov(ing) away from supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Putting those two statements together, it appears that Philz doesn&rsquo;t want to alienate its supporters in San Francisco&rsquo;s gay population, but it also doesn&rsquo;t want to alienate future customers who might not  the Castro District&rsquo;s &hellip; how to put it &hellip; &ldquo;libertine&rdquo; philosophy on when it comes to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transexuals, pansexuals, parasexuals, gammasexuals, tetrasexuals, throuples, furries or any other demographic base that might turn out under a &ldquo;pride&rdquo; flag in any given June.<\/p>\n<p>After all, the very large part of America that doesn&rsquo;t approve of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/catholic-mlb-player-unleashes-dodgers-urges-fans-take-action-look-jesus-christ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mocking nuns or parodying the Crucifixion<\/a> (like, 99 percent of it) buys coffee, too.<\/p>\n<p>According to an online profile <a href=\"https:\/\/savorgood.com\/2014\/02\/27\/phil-jaber-philz-coffee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">published in 2014<\/a>, Philz was founded by the eponymous Phil Jaber, a Palestinian immigrant. The first store opened in San Francisco&rsquo;s Mission District in 2002, but the franchise has now expanded far beyond the City by the Bay, <a href=\"https:\/\/philzcoffee.com\/our-story\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">with locations<\/a> throughout California as well as in Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freemanspogli.com\/news\/philz-coffee-partners-with-freeman-spogli-for-next-phase-of-growth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">purchased by Freeman Spogli<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-fall-and-rise-of-the-lefts-premier-dark-money-network\/\" title=\"The fall and rise of the ...&#039;s premier dark money network\">private equity firm based<\/a> in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>During the years in between, it saw occasional controversy &mdash; what with the George Floyd madness and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/philz-coffee-fired-employees-police-policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cop-loathing that inspired<\/a> among libs &mdash; but it appears the company leadership is more interested in the bottom line than virtue signaling.<\/p>\n<p>A business with national aspirations can&rsquo;t foreclose on future customers with decor explicitly designed to cater to one demographic group &mdash; <em>to the exclusion of all others. <\/em>Philz apparently wants a &ldquo;<em>safe and inclusive space for all<\/em>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maybe the quivering souls behind the Change.org petition &mdash; Philz barristas, allegedly &mdash; might feel a little less confounded and a little more supported if they understood exactly how it is a private company keeps the lights on, the doors open and the paychecks clearing &mdash; by appealing to as many wallets and pocketbooks as possible, not a niche that needs to be coddled and comforted.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s nothing personal at all. Really. It&rsquo;s just business.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Philz Coffee, a San Francisco-born chain, said it would remove Pride flags from all its stores, a move that drew anger from LGBTQ+ activists who shared petitions online. The company insisted the change is about securing a consistent, inclusive experience across locations, including removing certain decor, while still affirming support for the LGBTQIA+ community. An article cited a confidential internal memo explaining the goal of displaying a single piece of artwork that unifies all customers and demonstrates commitment to diversity. Critics say the policy excludes Pride supporters; supporters argue it broadens inclusivity to a wider customer base. The piece also notes Philz\u2019s growth from a Mission District cafe in 2002 to a nationwide chain, and its 2025 purchase by a private equity firm, arguing that a private business must appeal to as many wallets as possible rather than cater to a niche. The overall message presented is that the decision is business-driven, not personal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2591798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Philz-coffee.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[40990,39618,77946,32422],"class_list":["post-2591797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-coffee-shop","tag-corporate-policy","tag-pride-flags","tag-san-francisco"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Philz-coffee.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2591797"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2591801,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591797\/revisions\/2591801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2591798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2591797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2591797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2591797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}