(KRON) -- Philz Coffee is bringing back pride flags after growing backlash for its decision to take them down at certain locations. After a series of "meaningful conversations" between Philz's CEO Mahesh Sadarangani, Philz Team Members and San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, the popular coffee chain has decided that all pride flags can stay up and any that came down can be put back up. “When Philz Coffee removed Pride flags from some of their locations, our community felt it. That kind of action sends a message, especially right now, when LGBTQIA+ people are navigating a climate that feels more threatening by the day,” said Ford. In addition, each of Philz's 82 locations will feature local artwork to represent its team members and the community it serves, the company said. Earlier in April, a petition was circulating that claimed that Pride flags were asked to be removed at certain Philz Coffee locations by corporate. However, the cause of the removal was somewhat unclear with some store managers saying Sadarangani encouraged them to remove the flags at a company summit, and others saying they had not been asked at all. A California Pride flag seen inside a San Francisco Philz Coffee shop. (KRON4 Photo) “I made a mistake, and I am sincerely sorry," said Sadarangani in a statement. The statement from Philz Coffee emphasized that allyship was part of the company's foundation, and the policy change was not just about optics. "Philz's longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is not a new commitment, but the foundation on which the company was built." ...read more read less