Starbucks plans to open a corporate office in Nashville, Tenn., impacting some Seattle-based jobs related to the coffee giant’s North American supply-chain operations.
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development confirmed the news on Tuesday.
KING 5 reported that jobs in Seattle “connected to direct and indirect sourcing operations teams within the supply chain will be impacted.” The Wall Street Journal reported that the company plans to offer positions to dozens of existing Seattle-based employees to relocate, and open additional roles in the Nashville market in the future.
The move is part of Starbucks’ bid to grow across North America and establish “a more strategic presence” in the Southeast region of the U.S., according to Mike Grams, Starbucks chief operating officer.
“The city offers a deep, talented and growing workforce, making it a desirable location for us,” Gramns said of Nashville.
Amazon seemed to agree with that assessment in 2018 when it first planted a flag in Nashville and announced plans for a new “Center of Excellence for its Operations business.” The Seattle-based tech giant said at the time it planned to employ 5,000 people in “Music City.” The pandemic slowed some of that initial growth, but Amazon has shared updates along the way about its offices and its affordable housing commitments in Nashville.
Starbucks is in the midst of an operational overhaul under CEO Brian Niccol, who joined the company in September 2024. Niccol led a similar revamp previously as the top executive at Chipotle, and at Starbucks is pairing old-school service standards with new technology, including an AI-infused coffee ordering component.
In February 2025, Starbucks cut 1,100 corporate positions, including 612 workers in Washington, in one of the largest layoffs ever at the coffee giant.
In January, Starbucks reported its first U.S. comparable transaction growth in two years, saying that both loyalty members and casual customers are visiting more often.
The plan to grow out of state, away from its longtime corporate home in Seattle, is likely to produce some jitters, not just among coffee drinkers, but with those concerned that tax initiatives in Seattle and Washington state are scaring away big business and innovators.
Tech leaders have been sounding the alarm over a so‑called “millionaires tax” — a state income tax that would impose a 9.9% levy on personal income above $1 million — as well as an increase to Washington’s capital gains tax.
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