Mystery ‘Dumb Starbucks’ Shop Appears from out of Nowhere in L.A.’s Los Feliz

Posted: February 9, 2014 | Author: Pundit Planet | Filed under: Art & Culture, Food & Drink, Humor | Tags: Compact Disc, Dan Harmon, Dumb Starbucks, Hillhurst Calgary, Hollywood Reporter, Los Feliz Los Angeles, Rainn Wilson, Starbucks, Vons |2 Comments

Erik Hayden and Brandon Kirby report: The Los Feliz coffee scene has a new attention-getting entrant, though all bets are off on how long it sticks around.

Dumb Starbucks Coffee, which parodies the design of a coffee giant chain store, appeared out of seemingly nowhere over the weekend as a pop-up store in a nondescript Hillhurst Ave. location.

All of the coffee, brewed by two baristas, is free (tips appreciated). They also have pastries (apparently purchased from Vons) that are also free for the taking for now. Alongside a non-functioning cash register, CD’s like “Dumb Nora Jones Duets” [sic] and “Dumb Jazz Standards” are stocked.

And there is a reasonably long line — dozens of people — waiting for a novelty brew on Sunday.

Perhaps due to its impeccably rendered versions of the shop sign, menu and coffee cup design, the store has drawn attention on social media. Communityshowrunner Dan Harmon and The Office comedian Rainn Wilson happened to boost the profile of the shop by sharing links to Dumb Starbucks images.

[MORE PHOTOS: Inside ‘Dumb Starbucks’]

One barista told The Hollywood Reporter that he was hired two weeks ago when he found the posting on Craigslist. “Our boss wasn’t prepared for all this, that’s why we’re short staffed,” he said. There wasn’t any word yet on who’s behind the parody pop-up store.

There were only a few tables inside of Dumb Starbucks and patrons who were served didn’t seem to stick around too long. But there was a working espresso machine (but no working steam wand) and a drip coffee maker…

The Hollywood Reporter