Starbucks Reportedly Eyeing Massive Nashville Office

Coffee giant may lease enough space for up to 2,000 employees, far more than previously acknowledged.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:18am

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Starbucks is reportedly considering leasing 250,000 square feet of office space in Nashville, Tennessee, enough to accommodate up to 2,000 employees. This would mark a significant expansion of the company's presence in the Southeast, beyond the previously announced logistics center. The move comes as Starbucks' CEO Brian Niccol aims to turn around the company under an initiative called 'Back to Starbucks', which has included store closures and layoffs.

Why it matters

Starbucks' potential move to Nashville would fuel an ongoing debate about whether regulations and taxes in Washington state are driving employers to look elsewhere. It also raises questions about the future of Starbucks' Seattle headquarters, where the company has been based since 1997.

The details

According to a report in CoStar News, Starbucks is reviewing a brand-new six-story office building overlooking the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville as a potential lease location. The coffee giant has not confirmed the plans, but the reported 250,000-square-foot requirement suggests a much larger presence in Tennessee than the previously announced logistics center. Starbucks has not disclosed how many employees currently work at its Seattle headquarters.

  • In January 2026, Starbucks told investors it could build as many as 5,000 more U.S. locations, including many in the South and Northeast.
  • Earlier in March 2026, Starbucks announced plans to relocate its logistics operations to the Nashville area, affecting 'dozens' of employees in Seattle.

The players

Starbucks

A Seattle-based coffee giant that is reportedly considering leasing a large office space in Nashville, Tennessee.

Brian Niccol

The CEO of Starbucks who took over in 2024 and is leading an initiative called 'Back to Starbucks' to turn around the company.

Howard Schultz

The former longtime CEO of Starbucks who recently announced his departure to Miami, which many saw as a rebuke of recent increases in state taxes in Washington.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Starbucks' potential move to Nashville highlights the ongoing debate about whether regulations and taxes in Washington state are driving employers to look elsewhere, raising questions about the future of the company's Seattle headquarters.