Grey's Anatomy actor beats Starbucks in coffee chain bid

Patrick Dempsey's company has bought US coffee chain Tully's for $9.2 million. Photo / Supplied

Patrick Dempsey's bid to buy coffee chain Tully's has been approved.

The Grey's Anatomy actor outbid competitors including Starbucks to buy the Seattle based chain through his company Global Baristas LLC earlier this month and after a legal objection, federal judge Karen Overstreet ruled that the initial auction was fair and no mistakes had been made.

Dempsey said, "I've been deeply humbled by the outpouring of support from the city of Seattle and am very proud to be a new business owner in this amazing city. We have a lot to accomplish over the next few months and years, and I am excited to now call Seattle my second home."

Declaring victory over Starbucks on Twitter previously, he wrote: "We met the green monster, looked her in the eye, and...SHE BLINKED! We got it! Thank you Seattle! (sic)."

He added: "I'm thrilled that we won and I'm even more excited about saving Tully's Coffee and its hundreds of jobs."

Tully's Coffee, which also has stores in Washington and California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.

AgriNurture Inc., teamed up with Starbucks for a combined bid of $10.6 million, but Dempsey's company bought the chain for $9.2 million.

- Bang! Showbiz