World's First Starbucks

Nothing says Seattle like fresh-brewed coffee, and nobody knows coffee like Starbucks! Now one of the most recognizable brands around the world, Starbucks got its start in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. While the original Starbucks store has moved down the street, it is still a crowded tourist attraction that should be a stop on any coffee-lovers tour of Seattle.

About the World's First Starbucks

The first Starbucks store was opened in 1971 in Pike Place Market, and it is referred to as both the Pike Place Starbucks and the Original Starbucks. Opened the same year that Starbucks was founded, what started as a small store for a coffee bean roasting and trading company has turned into an empire with more than 32,000 stores in 80+ countries.

Visiting the World's First Starbucks

The world's first Starbucks is on Pike Place, between Virginia St and Steward St, at Pike Place Market.

History

The history of Starbucks began in Seattle in 1971, when three men started the company in Pike Place Market. In the 1980s, Starbucks was sold to Howard Schultz, who had a dream after a trip to Italy of turning the simple coffee bean store into an espresso-serving coffee shop.

The original location of the first Starbucks café was located at 2000 Western Avenue, where it stood until 1976. Demolished and moved just down the street, the café was rebuilt and remains at this location—1912 Pike Place. A plaque on the Starbucks building designates it as the first Starbucks branch to open.

Interesting Facts

The brand Starbucks has become synonymous with coffee in popular culture, and Howard Schultz built it from a five-store operation in 1982 to the 6th-fastest growing brand in the world. With an interesting story that is rooted in Seattle’s history, it’s worth a visit to say you’ve stepped foot in the Original Starbucks.

• The existing Starbucks in Pike Place Market is still designed to match the style of the original building, keeping with the historical significance of the site.
• Starbucks is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, and it is ranked 114th on the Fortune 500, along with 288th on the Forbes Global 2000.
• Of the 32,000+ stores that Starbucks operates around the world, more than 18,600 of them are located in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.
• The Pike Place Market, where the Original Starbucks is located, has more than 10 million visitors every year, and it is ranked as the 33rd most-visited tourist attraction in the world.

Points of Interest

When visiting Seattle, Pike Place Market is at the top of the list of must-see attractions, and no visit to the market is complete without a stop at the world’s first Starbucks. As part of the fascinating history of Seattle, Starbucks continues to make its mark on the local economy and the world—one cup of coffee at a time.