Scroll through the slideshow to see how Howard Schultz and his Starbucks empire have grown through the years.
Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz in a scene from Starbucks' annual shareholders meeting in Seattle on March 23, 2016. (Photo by Starbucks) Photo: Multiple
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Photo: DAVID RYDER, Reuters
U2 front man Bono with Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz.
Seattle Storm owner Howard Schultz expresses his displeasure with a call against the Storm in their championship game against Connecticut Sun Oct. 12, 2004. Seattle Post-Intelligencer Photo by Mike Urban
Howard Schultz puts his basketball passion on display. The Starbucks chairman, who bought the Sonics in 2001, has a 42-percent stake in the team. Photo: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Starbucks Coffee Company's Chairman Howard Schultz (L) poses with Vice Chairman of Tata Global Beverages R.K. Krishnakumar (R) during a news conference at the country's first newly-inaugurated Starbucks outlet in Mumbai on October 19, 2012. Photo: PUNIT PARANJPE, AFP/Getty Images / 2012 AFP
Starbucks Coffee Company CEO Howard Schultz, left, talks with Los Angeles Angels assistant hitting coach Dave Hansen, right, during batting practice before an opening day baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, April 6, 2015, in Seattle. Photo: Ted S. Warren, Associated Press
Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the annual Starbucks shareholders meeting in Seattle. Photo: AP
Seattle Supersonics owner Howard Schultz (R) chats with jazz saxophone player Kenny G (L) prior to his team's game against the San Antonio Spurs in Seattle, 27 April 2002. Schultz' Sonics lost 75-102 to falls behind 2-1 in their first round best-of-five Western Conference playoffs. (AFP/Getty Images)
No.The first Starbucks, which opened in March 1971, was at 2000 Western Avenue and known as Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices. It moved to 1912 Pike Place in 1976 and thats where tourists from around the world take pictures of what they think is the first Starbucks location. It is the oldest remaining location. The company really took off after the three original owners sold it to Howard Schultz in 1988. This picture, from the year before, shows 1912 Pike Place. Photo: Seattlepi.com File
Howard Schultz, #854, $1.5 billion: The former copier salesman’s coffee chain – you know it is Starbucks, right? – is synonymous with Seattle in the minds of many. Just look at hordes of cruise ship-bound tourists posing for photos at the Pike Place Market location. He also sold the Sonics to Oklahoma oilmen, so there’s that. Pictured above in New York toasting Pike Place Roast. Photo: Mario Tama, Getty Images / 2008 Getty Images
Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO. He decries “irresponsibility and dysfunction” in Washington, D.C., hopes to “galvanize our customers.” (Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com files).
It's Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz (Oct. 6, 2011). (JIM WATSON / AFP/Getty Images)
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks in front of a graphic of the company's financial performance during Starbucks' annual shareholders meeting, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Seattle. Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks in front of a photo of the first-ever Starbucks store, which is still open at Seattle's Pike Place Market, during the company's annual shareholders meeting, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Seattle. Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is illuminated by a video screen as he views a presentation at the company's annual shareholders meeting, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Seattle, Wash. Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the company's annual shareholders meeting, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Seattle, Wash. Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks in front of the Starbucks logo during the company's annual shareholders meeting, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Seattle. Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press
Howard SchultzWhen he bought the Seattle Sonics in 2001, the Starbucks maven wanted to create the model NBA franchise. But he soon found sports business to be quite different from coffee imperialism. First came his feud with star Gary Payton, whom he traded away despite the adoration of Sonics fans. Then came a negotiating battle with Rashard Lewis. The Sonics started losing and Schultz got more and more bitter, often slouching in his courtside seat. When Schultz requested public funds for a new NBA arena, he was irate when neither city leadership nor the public wanted to help out. Schultz threatened to move or sell the team if he didn't get what he wanted -- and sell the team he did, in 2008, to Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett. The Sonics are now the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Schultz remains one of the most hated sports figures in Seattle. Photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle P-I
Howard Schultz, Seattle SuperSonisSonics fans weren’t so lucky. The team rapidly fell into disarray after the Starbucks CEO took control in 2001, as Schultz feuded with star players and seemed utterly overmatched as the owner of a professional sports franchise. After failing to secure funds for a new basketball arena in Seattle, Schultz sold the team to Oklahoma businessman Clay Bennett in 2006. After over 40 years in the Pacific Northwest, and one year after selecting Kevin Durant in the 2007 NBA Draft, the franchise packed its bags and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Photo: Elaine Thompason, Associated Press
Kosher certifier reduces list of acceptable Starbucks drinks
BALTIMORE (AP) — A leading company in Kosher certification has dropped some Starbucks drinks from its acceptable consumption list.
The Baltimore Sun reports Star-K said this month it's dropping drinks with "syrups, sauces, toppings, powders, soy or almond milk" after the coffee behemoth ended an expanded kosher certification program with the Baltimore-based company. Starbucks' Americanos, espressos, cold brew coffee and iced lattes remain on Star-K's kosher list.
And neither one is a Frappuccino.
Media: Food & Wine
Rabbi Zvi Holland oversees Star-K's certification of Starbucks. He says the Seattle-based chain teamed up with Star-K to create a compliance program in late 2015. He says he thinks Starbucks ended it because "it's hard for them to stick to."