Starbucks to open first U.S. sign language store

Starbucks has announced plans to open its first U.S. sign language store in Washington D.C. this October, as part of an effort to boost hiring and accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing employees and customers, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The details: The store, to be located near Gallaudet University, a college designed to be barrier-free for deaf and hard of hearing students, will hire 20 to 25 deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing employees. The company in total reportedly has about 200 current employees who self-identify as deaf or hard of hearing. Starbucks opened its first signing store in 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.