Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 1971. The coffee company began with founders Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zev Siegl, who opened the doors on March 30.
The original store was not initially at the address most visitors associate with it. It began at 2000 Western Avenue, near Pike Place Market, and moved in 1977 to 1912 Pike Place, where the historic location remains. Starbucks originally sold roasted coffee beans, brewing equipment, and accessories rather than the espresso-drink menu associated with the modern chain.
The founders were inspired by Alfred Peet, whose Berkeley coffee shop helped popularize high-quality coffee roasting in the United States. Starbucks adopted its name from the novel Moby-Dick, while its early nautical branding included a siren logo.
A frequent misconception is that the current Pike Place address was the exact site from opening day. It is the company’s enduring historic home, but the first premises were on Western Avenue. The Pike Place store is now one of Starbucks’ best-known heritage locations.