Starbucks Shanghai Pet-Friendly Space Criticized for Asking Customer to Give Up Seat
A customer at Starbucks' Xuhui West Bund Dream Center store in Shanghai was asked to vacate his seat for pet owners after sitting in an area labeled pet-friendly but not clearly designated as a pet zone. The space lacked explicit signage and usage rules, and staff gave no prior notice. The store said it is in trial operation.
On August 26, self-media writer Liu Shengleilei, after purchasing a drink and sitting down to write for an hour at the Starbucks store in Shanghai's Xuhui West Bund Dream Center, was told by staff that his booth belonged to a "pet zone" and was asked to give up his seat for customers arriving with pets. An on-site inspection found that the booth had no clear "pet zone" signage, only a "pet-friendly space" label, with no publicized usage rules, and staff gave no warning before the customer sat down.
Under Article 23 of the Shanghai Dog Management Regulations, dogs are prohibited from entering dining establishments. Although the booth was separated from the main dining area by an internal door, the space remained within the premises of a food and beverage operation. The store responded that it is currently in a trial operation phase. The pet-friendly space can accommodate 8 to 10 people.