[Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images]
All across the internet and social media this weekend were images of Dumb Starbucks, a parody coffee shop art thing which opened on Friday in a Los Feliz strip mall. Based on the lengthy lines snaking out and into the parking lot, one would think management was giving out cronuts, but no. Just "Dumb Iced Coffees" and "Dumb Frappuccinos," according to a beverage menu nearly identical to Starbucks except with the word "Dumb" added first. And although prices are listed, coffee here was free over the weekend as part of a "grand opening," according to SCPR. Pretty much everything at Dumb Starbucks is modeled after Starbucks, and all signage/imagery begins with the word "Dumb." How can the mysterious owners get away with this?
Interior signage indicates that a parody law enables management to use the Starbucks name/logo and for legal reasons the shop is considered an art gallery and the coffee is art. But yes, this is a real functioning coffee shop. At least for now. The first people to tweet about the place were tv writer Dan Harmon and The Office actor Rainn Wilson, so perhaps they have some dumb connection.
· 'Dumb Starbucks' mystery: Who's behind the faux coffee front in Los Feliz [SCPR]
· 'Dumb Starbucks' Parody Coffee Shop Opens in LA [~ELA~]