Which Starbucks Stores Are Closing In Gaithersburg For Training

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Starbucks is closing more than 8,000 stores nationwide Tuesday afternoon for racial bias training.

Closings impact regular locations. Most will close at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. Licensed locations inside places such as Barnes and Noble and Target may have regular hours.

"For several hours this afternoon, we will close stores and offices to discuss how to make Starbucks a place where all people feel welcome," Starbucks said in a Twitter statement. "Thank you for your patience and support as we renew our promise to make Starbucks an inclusive gathering place for all. See you tomorrow."

Here are the hours for Starbucks locations around Gaithersburg:

• Lakeforest Mall: 701 Russell Ave., open until 2:30 p.m.
• First Field Shopping Center: 505 Quince Orchard Rd., open until 2:30 p.m.
• Target Gaithersburg: 25 Grand Corner Ave., open until 9 p.m.
• Washingtonian Waterfront: 213 Boardwalk Place, open until 2:30 p.m.
• Downtown Crown: 307 Copley Place, open until 2:30 p.m.
• Flower Hill: 18240 Flower Hill Way, open until 2:30 p.m.
• Muddy Branch: 898 Muddy Branch Rd., open until 2:15 p.m.
• Kentlands: 121 Market Street, open until 2:15 p.m.

The training is a response to the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks after the manager called police on them. On April 12, the manager of a Starbucks in downtown Philadelphia called police on two black men who were seated inside the store. They had not bought anything, and apparently refused to leave. The police arrested the men for loitering, which was captured in a cell phone video.

The two men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, settled with the city of Philadelphia for just $1 each on the condition that officials establish a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs. They reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Starbucks.

"I've spent the last few days in Philadelphia with my leadership team listening to the community, learning what we did wrong and the steps we need to take to fix it," said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson in an April press release. "While this is not limited to Starbucks, we're committed to being a part of the solution. Closing our stores for racial bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities."

Image via David Allen/Patch