Starbucks reconsiders its relationship with Seattle, for the New York Times
August 1, 2026

The remnants of a Starbucks Coffee sign are visible on a brick building façade at the former University District location of Starbucks at 4147 University Way NE that was closed in March 2026 in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location was one of a handful of unionized Starbucks stores that were closed at the same time around Seattle.
Coffee mugs bearing a Pike Place design stand in the window of the original Starbucks location at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location, which opened in 1976, is located at 1912 Pike Place, close to the actual first Starbucks location at 2000 Western Avenue, which started in 1971, but which is now a park.

On May Day I went around Seattle for a New York Times story about Starbucks’ recent corporate decisions to move some of its headquarters to Tennessee, close some iconic (and unionized) stores around the Seattle area (including the U District location and the Reserve Roastery), and what that all means for the company’s identity, which until now has been so tied to Seattle. Along the way I stopped by the large annual May Day rally in Seattle’s Cal Anderson park, an annual gathering of area unions in support of workers’ rights, and the original Starbucks store (which, in fact, is a few hundred feet from the actual original location that is now a park). Recent reporting says that the first store, long a major tourist destination, may try to unionize.

This one was a fun challenge without any special access to anything; that’s usually my favorite type of assignment…start with just a very basic story brief and then follow my visual instincts for a day. Thanks to Jen for the call on this one!

People walk along E Pine St. in the annual May Day rally and march celebrating International Workers' Day in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026.
The corporate headquarters of Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026.
A weathered Starbucks Workers United union poster reading "No Contract No Starbucks!" hangs on a pole near the former Starbucks Reserve Roastery at 1124 Pike St. in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location, which was a unionized store, was closed in September 2025 during corporate restructuring. The union held a rally featuring these posters in November 2025.
Bags of Pike Place Special Reserve coffee stand in the window of the original Starbucks location at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location, which opened in 1976, is located at 1912 Pike Place, close to the actual first Starbucks location at 2000 Western Avenue, which started in 1971, but which is now a park.
A weathered poster reading "Starbucks has broken labor law over 200 times" hangs on a pole near the former Starbucks Reserve Roastery at 1124 Pike St. in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location, which was a unionized store, was closed in September 2025 during corporate restructuring.
Boards cover the façade of the former Starbucks Reserve Roastery at 1124 Pike St. in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location, which was a unionized store, was closed in September 2025 during corporate restructuring.
A Starbucks employee displays a button reading "First store workers united" on a bag at the annual May Day rally and march celebrating International Workers' Day in Lake Union Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. The button is in support of efforts by Starbucks employees at the Pike Place Market original store location to join the Starbucks Workers United union.
People gather at Cal Anderson Park for the annual May Day rally and march celebrating International Workers' Day in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026.
Shinichirou (left) and wife Yuzu Honda, visiting from Japan, pose for a picture with the original Starbucks logo outside the original Starbucks location at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. This location, which opened in 1976, is located at 1912 Pike Place, close to the actual first Starbucks location at 2000 Western Avenue, which started in 1971, but which is now a park.
Sharmarke Warsame (center, with hat) joins fellow SEIU 6 union members as people gather for the annual May Day rally and march celebrating International Workers' Day in Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026.
Starbucks employee and Starbucks Workers United union member Kay Li holds a union bandana after speaking to attendees at the conclusion of the annual May Day rally and march celebrating International Workers' Day in Lake Union Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. Li spoke about working conditions for Starbucks employees in the US and farm workers in coffee belt countries including Brazil, Indonesia, and Kenya.
Starbucks employee and Starbucks Workers United union member Kay Li speaks to attendees at the conclusion of the annual May Day rally and march celebrating International Workers' Day in Lake Union Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Fri., May 1, 2026. Li spoke about working conditions for Starbucks employees in the US and farm workers in coffee belt countries including Brazil, Indonesia, and Kenya.
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