Let's go to Dumb Starbucks!

[KamaAina]

No, really, it's a thing. In L.A.

http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/A-Mysterious-New-Coffee-Shop-Called-Dumb-5219482.php

A parody coffee shop mocking Starbucks opened this weekend in Los Angeles and is quickly becoming a sensation on social media.

The shop, "Dumb Starbucks," looks nearly identical to the real Starbucks—with the exception of the word "dumb" being prefixed to the title and menu items.

A Starbucks spokesman told the Wall Street Journal that the company has nothing to do with the new shop, but is looking into it. ...

Amber, one of the baristas, told the Journal that the shop's use of the Starbucks logo for marketing purposes is legal because it's a clear parody.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

1. Cease and Desist Letter Coming in....3.....2......1 (nt)

[progressoid]

7. Yep.

[cui bono]

2. That's why I love my neighborhood!

They claim they should be able to use the logo since it's parody, but I don't know... honestly, what is the parody? Just the names of the establishment and names of the items? I don't think the actual coffee and pastries are parodies. Not sure this will stick.

Local news shows a long line of people. I suspect the novelty will wear off.

[KamaAina]

3. The long line is probably for the free coffee

that they were pouring over the weekend.

[cui bono]

4. Ah yes... hipsters need free coffee!

[Wounded Bear]

5. That's hilarious...

Wont last long, I'm sure. But anything that sticks it to Starbucks and Schultz is fine with me.

[Initech]

6. Do they sell full body lattes?

[Zorro]

8. Brew ha-ha: Comedian Nathan Fielder is the man behind Dumb Starbucks

Speculation brewed for days over the origins of Dumb Starbucks, the seemingly rogue coffee shop that opened in the Los Feliz neighborhood in Los Angeles over the weekend and was suddenly shut down Monday by the health department.

Frothy curiosity and furious Twitter queries were finally satisfied at a news conference at the Hillhurst Avenue location, where comedian Nathan Fielder of the Comedy Central show "Nathan for You" revealed that he's the man behind the faux cafe.

The store, which has had out-the-door lines for several days, attracted crowds to its mini-mall storefront with a nearly exact copy of a legitimate Starbucks Corp. chain store. Its menu featured Dumb Iced Coffee, Dumb Frappuccinos and Wuppy Duppy Lattes, and its shelves stocked "dumb" music CDs.

Dressed in a green Dumb Starbucks apron, an in-character Fielder told the crowd he's always wanted to open a small business.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-dumb-starbucks-20140211,0,3269956.story