Overview
- Philz Coffee, which confirmed the policy Wednesday, said it will take down Pride and other flags to create a consistent look across its stores.
- A group calling itself Philz Coffee Baristas launched a Change.org petition that topped 2,000 signatures by Wednesday night, arguing the flags mark the cafés as safe and welcoming spaces.
- The company has not given a timeline for removals, and some San Francisco locations, including in the Castro, still display Pride symbols as employees report little guidance.
- Leaders say the brand’s allyship remains intact and point to hiring practices and an annual Pride Month Unity celebration set to return in June.
- Founded in San Francisco in 2003 and now with more than 60 locations in California and Chicago, Philz was bought in 2025 by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co., a shift that helps explain a push for centralized branding.