Original Starbucks

Original Starbucks

Original Starbucks Pixabay Public Domain

Welcome to the original Starbucks, the birthplace of the massive coffee company conglomerate you know and love today.

Located within Pike Place Market (1912/102 Pike Street), this historically rich and vitally important store was first founded in 1971. It was founded by teacher friends Jerry Baldwin, Zev Sigl, and Gordon Baker from the University of San Francisco. They named the store such after the Pequod's first mate in Melville's novel Moby Dick (Starbuck). They actually opened that very first store at 2000 Western Avenue, and this was the main store from 1971 to 1976. The intention was simply to sell roasting coffee beans here at first.

Nearly 50 years of experience has changed the basic 'beans and spices' Starbucks to the 'latte and frappe' establishment we know today, though the quality coffee is still the same.

Visiting the 1,000 square foot original store in Pike Place Market today is an exciting experience, though you will have to deal with a permanent long line. Inside you will see the warm heritage of the original store shining through, with hardwood floors, recycled leather on the bars from local factories, walnut furniture from local farms, and wall art made from repurposed burlap from their roasting plants.