March 12, 2026 – Coffee fans, rejoice: Starbucks is increasing its presence in Music City from “Grande” to “Venti.”
The world’s largest coffee chain will be opening its Southeast corporate office in Nashville later this year. In the announcement, made in tandem with Governor Bill Lee, Starbucks also will provide opportunities for dozens of its Seattle-based employees to move to Nashville.
“Companies across the nation recognize that Tennessee’s strong values and fiscally-conservative approach are good for business, and we are proud to welcome another Fortune 500 company like Starbucks to our state,” Governor Lee said. “As Starbucks continues to shape their brand and expand their operations, we’re grateful they have chosen to build a future in the Volunteer State and will create quality jobs for Tennesseans.”
Gov. Lee expanded on that news as part of his final address to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, celebrating Starbucks’ decision as one of the 27 corporate relocations and expansions and the 5,000 new jobs that have arrived in the area during his term – a sign “that Tennessee is moving in the right direction in economic development.”
While Seattle remains the company’s global and North American headquarters, Nashville becomes a vital cog in the organization’s strategic plans going forward. The decision comes a few years after another Seattle-based giant —Amazon— brought more than 3,000 employees to Nashville with the launch of its operations hub.
“Looking ahead, Starbucks has great ambitions to grow even further across North America. With these growth plans, we see Nashville, Tennessee, as an ideal location to open an office and establish a more strategic presence in the Southeast region of the U.S.,” Starbucks chief operating officer Mike Grams said. “The city offers a deep, talented and growing workforce, making it a desirable location for us.”
“We’re excited to see Starbucks choose Tennessee as the home for this corporate office and can’t think of a better fit than the heart of Music City,” said Deputy Governor Stuart C. McWhorter – also the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “Investments like this reinforce Tennessee’s position as a destination for high-quality corporate growth and deliver meaningful, well-paying opportunities for our talented workforce.”
The Volunteer State is likewise grateful for Starbucks’ vision to grow in Tennessee, and the Stars look forward to welcoming Starbucks — and its employees — to Music City in the coming months!
–Written by Juan Jose Rodriguez