The “Original” Starbucks in Seattle, WA

Posted on July 7, 2020

by Hey There From Here

You won’t have to look very hard to find a Starbucks in Seattle but these two unique stores top the list. Make sure to visit them both and get a “grande” taste of past and present.

The “Original” Starbucks

The original Starbucks opened it’s doors on March 30th 1971. It was located at 2000 Western Ave. from 1971 until 1976 before moving a few blocks north to the current location of 102 Pike St. The actual “first” store was opened as a coffee bean shop by three college friends from the University of San Francisco who learned the art of coffee roasting from “PEETS” coffee and tea founder, Alfred Peet. Their mission at the time was to sell fresh roasted coffee beans. We all know how that turned out.

What we now know as the “original” Starbucks actually isn’t but it’s close enough to count. It is however the original Pike Place Starbucks store.

The Starbucks logo has evolved over the years but the original design can be found hanging above the entrance, on the windows, inside the store, and on most of the merchandise that is available for purchase. Like the ceramic coffee cup that I just had to have.

The original sign bore a brown mermaid with a little more of a detailed anatomy. The logo theme was taken from nautical mythology and the Starbucks name came from the classic novel “Moby Dick”. The founders originally wanted to name the future coffee chain Pequod after Captain Ahab’s ship but the ship was ultimately beat out by the ship’s first mate Starbuck. Thank goodness, right? It just doesn’t seem to have the same flair.

The original Starbucks, otherwise known as Pike Place Starbucks store, is undoubtedly a huge tourist attraction and brings thousands of visitors a year from all around the world.

If you are eager to visit this coffee shop time machine, like me, be prepared to wait in a line. The line is usually a block or two long but moves fairly quickly. The experience is worth the wait. Once anyway.

What started out in this little, tiny store at Pike Place has grown into more than 21,500 stores in 64 countries.

This probably wouldn’t have been the case if they had stuck with the name Pequod. Good call Starbucks.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

Starbucks Reserve Roastery opened it’s doors in December of 2014. This beautiful coffee haven is located nine blocks from the original Pike Place store at 1124 Pike St. in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle and is open seven days a week from 7am to 11pm.

The gorgeous store front features the original Starbucks logo above the main entrance doors.

The coffee menu at the Roastery features items that are not available at other Starbucks stores and most of the typical drinks that you know and love are not sold here. Instead of a caramel brulee latte, for instance, they have a signature pistachio nut latte. So fancy.

I typically would go for a plain latte but being in the mood for something sweet at the time I took a chance on the pistachio. Not my favorite I’m sorry to say. The presentation was beautiful though.

You can order flights of coffee’s, cold brew’s, espresso’s and tea’s and sample different flavors.

You might as well have lunch while you’re here. There’s a variety of freshly baked breads, pastries and pizza’s to chose from.

A photo of the original Pike Place store is proudly displayed along the back wall.

Try a signature coffee over ice cream for dessert.

And of course there’s plenty of Starbucks Reserve merchandise available for sale. Shop til you drop.

Starbucks Reserve also serves cocktails, beer and wine. Don’t drink too many of these before you start shopping though, unless you want to wake up the next day with an unexplained amount of Starbucks loot.

Watch the roasters roasting in the roasting area.

This deliciousness below, which we thought was a display, actually belonged to the guy standing behind us. He was patient enough to let us get a pic before picking up his lunch order. Awkward moment but we got a little laugh out of it. True story. I’m just glad nobody touched it.