Howard Schultz founded Il Giornale before acquiring Starbucks in 1987.
Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 after encountering the company while visiting Seattle. A trip to Italy showed him the cultural role of espresso bars, where coffeehouses served as social gathering places. After leaving Starbucks, he created Il Giornale in 1985 to develop that café model in the United States.
Il Giornale operated coffee bars in Seattle and became the business vehicle through which Schultz and his investors purchased Starbucks in 1987. After the acquisition, the combined company adopted the Starbucks name and expanded the espresso-bar approach nationwide and internationally.
Il Giornale is often confused with an Italian coffee-roasting brand because its name is Italian. In this history, however, it was an American coffeehouse company founded by Schultz. The name refers to the Italian newspaper “Il Giornale.”