I visited Starbucks' first-ever store and was surprised at how many original touches it still has since opening in 1971

Sarah JacksonNov 11, 2021, 00:11 IST

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Starbucks has more than 30,000 locations around the world.
I visited its very first one, which opened in 1971, on a trip to Seattle's Pike Place Market.

Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world.

Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The company has more than 30,000 locations around the world.

Robert Alexander/Getty Images

It's headquartered in Seattle, where it opened its first store.

Donald Miralle/Getty Images for Rock'n'Roll Marathon

On a recent trip, I visited this store, which is located in the city's famous Pike Place Market.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

It was around 9am when I visited, but visitors to the store were somewhat sparse.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I was immediately struck by the lettering on the windows announcing that the store sells cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos. I don't think I've ever seen a Starbucks storefront advertise its drinks like this since the company is so well-known today. It makes sense, though, that this one would, given that Starbucks wasn't yet a household name when this location opened in 1971.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I was immediately struck by the lettering on the windows announcing that the store sells cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos. I don't think I've ever seen a Starbucks storefront advertise its drinks like this since the company is so well-known today. It makes sense, though, that this one would, given that Starbucks wasn't yet a household name when this location opened in 1971.

I was also surprised by the store's Starbucks logo. It's the original one from 1971, rather than the green-and-white logo commonly seen today.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The original logo includes a full-body image of the company's iconic siren, as well as text bearing the Starbucks name and the fact that it sold coffee, tea, and spices.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The original logo includes a full-body image of the company's iconic siren, as well as text bearing the Starbucks name and the fact that it sold coffee, tea, and spices.

It's pretty different from Starbucks' current logo, which has ditched the words, changed color, switched to a half-length portrait, and moved the siren's hair from behind her back to over her chest.

Starbucks

It's pretty different from Starbucks' current logo, which has ditched the words, changed color, switched to a half-length portrait, and moved the siren's hair from behind her back to over her chest.

Inside, the store looks more similar to other Starbucks locations.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

There's a lot of Starbucks merch that's specific to this store, including mugs, pins, and a cute "bearista" teddy bear...

Sarah Jackson/Insider

...as well as reusable cups, tumblers, and ornaments.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Here's a closer look at some of the merch.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Since it's exclusive to this location, the merch features the store's original Starbucks logo.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

As a result, a lot of the merch follows the brown-and-white color scheme of the original logo, whereas Starbucks' regular merch at other stores is often more colorful.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

This special assortment is part of the "Been There" series' Pin Drop Collection.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

By the counter, there's a brass sign denoting the store's significance in the company's history.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

There's also a framed copy of a Pike Place Market shopping guide from 1973, as well as an original Starbucks one-pound bag coffee bag from 1971.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Even the boxes at the store announce that the location is Starbucks' first.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Right above the door, there's a giant sculpture of a pig covered in coffee beans.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Named Pork 'n Beans, the pig was made for local competition Pigs on Parade in 2001 to fundraise for the Pike Place Market Foundation.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The location has a handwritten menu, which I've seen at Starbucks stores less and less often over the years.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

There was one common Starbucks fixture missing from this store: food. In fact, this is one of the only Starbucks locations in the world without it.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

That's because the original lease forbade food sales, and the store has decided to stick with this rule as a sort of tradition.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Customers can buy coffee beans in bulk at the store, and some of the brass labels identifying the blends are the same ones the store has been using for decades.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Alternatively, customers can take home pre-packed blends.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised how many original touches remain from the store's early years.

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I visited Starbucks' first-ever store and was surprised at how many original touches it still has since opening in 1971

Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world.

The company has more than 30,000 locations around the world.

It's headquartered in Seattle, where it opened its first store.

On a recent trip, I visited this store, which is located in the city's famous Pike Place Market.

It was around 9am when I visited, but visitors to the store were somewhat sparse.

I was also surprised by the store's Starbucks logo. It's the original one from 1971, rather than the green-and-white logo commonly seen today.

The original logo includes a full-body image of the company's iconic siren, as well as text bearing the Starbucks name and the fact that it sold coffee, tea, and spices.

It's pretty different from Starbucks' current logo, which has ditched the words, changed color, switched to a half-length portrait, and moved the siren's hair from behind her back to over her chest.

Inside, the store looks more similar to other Starbucks locations.

There's a lot of Starbucks merch that's specific to this store, including mugs, pins, and a cute "bearista" teddy bear...

...as well as reusable cups, tumblers, and ornaments.

Here's a closer look at some of the merch.

Since it's exclusive to this location, the merch features the store's original Starbucks logo.

As a result, a lot of the merch follows the brown-and-white color scheme of the original logo, whereas Starbucks' regular merch at other stores is often more colorful.

This special assortment is part of the "Been There" series' Pin Drop Collection.

By the counter, there's a brass sign denoting the store's significance in the company's history.

There's also a framed copy of a Pike Place Market shopping guide from 1973, as well as an original Starbucks one-pound bag coffee bag from 1971.

Even the boxes at the store announce that the location is Starbucks' first.

Right above the door, there's a giant sculpture of a pig covered in coffee beans.

Named Pork 'n Beans, the pig was made for local competition Pigs on Parade in 2001 to fundraise for the Pike Place Market Foundation.

The location has a handwritten menu, which I've seen at Starbucks stores less and less often over the years.

There was one common Starbucks fixture missing from this store: food. In fact, this is one of the only Starbucks locations in the world without it.

That's because the original lease forbade food sales, and the store has decided to stick with this rule as a sort of tradition.

Customers can buy coffee beans in bulk at the store, and some of the brass labels identifying the blends are the same ones the store has been using for decades.

Alternatively, customers can take home pre-packed blends.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised how many original touches remain from the store's early years.