What was Howard Schultz's coffee chain before he rebranded it as Starbucks?

What was Howard Schultz's coffee chain before he rebranded it as Starbucks? It was Il Giornale.

Schultz founded Il Giornale after leaving Starbucks in 1985. The name came from the Milanese newspaper, reflecting the Italian inspiration behind his vision for espresso bars modeled on the café culture he had experienced during a trip to Italy.

Il Giornale opened its first location in 1986 and served espresso beverages in a more café-like environment than the original Starbucks, which had mainly sold whole-bean coffee and brewing products. The stores also featured details such as opera music and limited seating.

In 1987, Il Giornale acquired Starbucks and its existing stores. Schultz then adopted the better-known Starbucks name, along with its siren identity, and used the company as the platform for rapid expansion. Il Giornale was therefore the predecessor business, not a later Starbucks product or subsidiary.