The first Starbucks store opened in 1971. Starbucks opened its doors on March 30, 1971, in Seattle, Washington, founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker.
The original business was not initially the espresso-focused coffeehouse familiar today. At first, Starbucks sold roasted coffee beans, ground coffee, and brewing equipment. The founders were inspired by coffee educator and roaster Alfred Peet, whose approach emphasized high-quality beans and careful roasting.
The first store stood at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971 to 1976 before moving to 1912 Pike Place, the address now widely associated with the Original Starbucks. This creates a common historical mix-up: Pike Place is the famous original location, but the company's first premises were on Western Avenue. Both locations belong to the brand's early Seattle history.
Howard Schultz later helped reshape Starbucks after joining the company in the 1980s. Inspired by Italian espresso bars, he expanded the café model and turned Starbucks into an international coffeehouse chain. The founders' 1971 opening, however, predates that transformation by more than a decade.