A new coffee shop in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles is attracting crowds eager to get some free coffee from the store front named “Dumb Starbucks.”
The shop opened on Friday without any fanfare, but lines were long as locals waited for a free iced coffee or latte. “Dumb Starbucks” serves other drinks (not free) with names like “Dumb Frappuccinos” and the seasonal “Wuppy Duppy Latte.”
The store “is nearly identical to a typical Starbucks location, with tumblers for sale and trendy CDs, including ‘Dumb Jazz Standards,’ displayed on the counter.”
Word of the new store spread via social media.
— Dumb Starbucks (@dumbstarbucks) February 8, 2014
" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480">Rumors about the store’s origin percolated through the crowd — a marketing ploy, a pop-up art installation, perhaps reality TV?
“It’s a ballsy move on their part,” said Ilya Khramtsou, 24. “It feels like they’re sticking it to the company. Everybody drinks Starbucks coffee, like zombies.”
“She drinks it every day,” he said, laughing as he motioned to his girlfriend Alisa Bazhenova, 24.
The couple stopped by to snap a quick photo, but decided not to stay once they saw the wait.
“I hope it’s an art thing vs. a business thing,” Eyster said. “I’d love to see a whole chain of dumb McDonald’s and dumb Cheesecake Factories.”
The LA Times sent an email to “Dumb Starbucks” but the operation did not respond.