Starbucks is moving forward with plans to establish its eastern U.S. headquarters in downtown Nashville, leasing 250,000 square feet at the Peabody Union development while preparing to launch a temporary office in The Gulch.
According to an article in Nashvile Business Journal, Starbucks is expected to open an interim workspace inside Asurion’s headquarters as early as May, according to multiple reports. This temporary office will house employees while construction continues on Starbucks’ long-term space at Peabody Union. The company plans to bring approximately 2,000 jobs there. The exact size of the interim lease within Asurion’s building has not been disclosed.
Starbucks’ permanent office at Peabody Union remains under construction, with officials indicating the space is not expected to be ready until 2027. The company recently showcased the unfinished top floor of the development, highlighting ongoing work needed before employees can fully relocate. Despite the construction timeline, Starbucks is moving ahead with hiring and transitioning staff, including employees relocating from its Seattle headquarters.
The Asurion building, located in Nashville’s Gulch district, has become a hub for major corporate tenants. Amazon already occupies roughly 100,000 square feet in the complex, making Starbucks the second Fortune 200 company to establish a presence there.
The Peabody Union project, a $285 million mixed-use development at Church Street and 11th Avenue, ranks among the largest office properties in downtown Nashville. The building originally opened in 2021 with Asurion leasing the entire space from landlord Highwoods Properties.
However, Asurion has significantly reduced its footprint in recent years. Since 2022, it has downsized operations, freeing multiple floors for sublease. The company now has about 2,300 employees across Middle Tennessee, including roughly 1,300 at its Gulch headquarters — a decline of about 40% compared to three years ago.
The availability of space created by Asurion’s downsizing has opened the door for new corporate tenants like Starbucks, signaling continued demand for high-profile office space in Nashville’s urban core.
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