Trending Now - Philz Coffee Faces Backlash for Dropping Pride Flags
WHO:
SFGATE - Philz Coffee, founded by Phil Jaber and his son Jacob in 2003.
SFGATE - Mahesh Sadarangani, CEO of Philz Coffee.
SFGATE - Employees of Philz Coffee who launched a petition.
San Francisco Chronicle - Philz Coffee, a Bay Area institution.
WHAT:
ABC7 San Francisco - Philz Coffee confirmed it will remove not just Pride flags, but also all other flags and decor from its locations nationwide.
SFGATE - The company plans to hold a pride event in June 2026.
SFGATE - A petition launched by employees states that the removal of pride flags has left many team members and customers feeling "confounded and unsupported."
SFGATE - CEO Mahesh Sadarangani stated, “Our longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged,” regarding the removal of pride flags.
SFGATE - An employee expressed on social media that the decision by Mahesh Sadarangani is “bound to backfire.”
SFGATE - The petition requests that Philz Coffee “reconsider their decision and reinstate the pride flags across all their locations.”
SFGATE - Philz Coffee decided to remove pride flags from its cafes.
SFGATE - A petition was launched by employees expressing confusion and lack of support due to the removal of pride flags.
SFGATE - The company operates over 60 locations throughout California.
SFGATE - Philz Coffee was acquired by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co. for $145 million in 2025.
SFGATE - The petition requests the reinstatement of pride flags to reaffirm commitment to diversity and inclusion.
WHERE:
ABC7 San Francisco - Philz Coffee operates over 60 locations not only in California but also in Chicago.
SFGATE - Philz Coffee locations are throughout California, with shops as far south as Orange County and the Inland Empire.
SFGATE - The original Philz Coffee was founded in San Francisco’s Mission District.
WHEN:
SFGATE - Philz Coffee was founded in 2003.
SFGATE - The acquisition by Freeman Spogli & Co. occurred in 2025.
SFGATE - The pride event is planned for June 2026.
WHY:
ABC7 San Francisco - CEO Mahesh Sadarangani stated, “At Philz, we have always believed everyone who walks through our doors deserves to feel welcome and safe, and that belief is at the core of everything we do...This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are.”
SFGATE - The petition argues that reinstating pride flags would reaffirm Philz Coffee's commitment to diversity and inclusion, aligning its values with the community it serves.
SFGATE - CEO Mahesh Sadarangani stated that the removal of pride flags aims to create a more consistent and inclusive experience across all stores.
SFGATE - Employees and customers feel that pride flags symbolize safe and welcoming spaces for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
HOW:
SFGATE - The decision to remove pride flags is part of a broader change in store decor, according to CEO Mahesh Sadarangani.
(UPDATED April 10, 2026 11:18 UTC)
Philz Coffee has announced that it will remove all flags and decor from its locations nationwide, which includes over 60 stores in California and Chicago. CEO Mahesh Sadarangani emphasized that this change is about the store's appearance rather than their core values of inclusivity and safety for all customers. Despite this shift, the company is planning to hold a pride event in June 20th26.
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(UPDATED April 10, 2026 01:24 UTC)
A petition launched by employees at Philz Coffee is calling for the reinstatement of pride flags, stating that their removal has left many feeling "confounded and unsupported." CEO Mahesh Sadarangani has responded, asserting that the company's longstanding support for the LGBTQIA+ community remains unchanged, but an employee on social media warned that this decision is “bound to backfire.” The petition emphasizes that restoring the pride flags would reaffirm Philz Coffee's commitment to diversity and inclusion, aligning the company’s values with the community it serves.
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(UPDATED April 9, 2026 19:23 UTC)
Philz Coffee, a beloved Bay Area institution founded in 2003, has decided to remove pride flags from its cafes, prompting employees to launch a petition expressing confusion and a desire for the flags' reinstatement to reaffirm the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion. CEO Mahesh Sadarangani stated that this decision is part of a broader change in store decor aimed at creating a more consistent and inclusive experience across all locations, which span from the Mission District in San Francisco to Orange County. The petition reflects the feelings of employees and customers who view pride flags as symbols of safe and welcoming spaces for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.