BUSINESS

Dumb Starbucks: County health department shuts down faux shop

By Samantha Schaefer,
Los Angeles Times (MCT)


Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder of the Comedy Central show "Nathan For You" comes forward as the brainchild of "Dumb Starbucks," a parody store that resembles a Starbucks with a green awning and mermaid logo, but with the word "Dumb" attached above the Starbucks sign. Starbucks Coffee spokeswoman Laurel Harper says the store is not affiliated with Starbucks and, despite the humor, the store cannot use the Starbucks name.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Health Department shut down the Dumb Starbucks on Monday just as the man behind the faux coffee shop in the Los Feliz neighborhood revealed he was the host of a Comedy Central TV show.

The shop was closed for operating without a health permit, the department told the Los Angeles Times. A sign was posted on the front window of the store on Hillhurst Avenue on Monday evening, saying it was closed for violations.

Comedian Nathan Fielder held a tongue-in-cheek news conference outside the storefront in a strip mall, wearing a green apron adorned with the mock logo.

Dozens of people were still waiting in line for cups — there was no more coffee — as Fielder began speaking.

Fielder, whose show "Nathan for You" airs on Comedy Central, told reporters and Dumb Starbucks patrons who filled the strip mall parking lot that he has always wanted to own a small business.

He said capitalizing on Starbucks' corporate name really helped this one take off.

"There have been lines around the block, and very few small businesses get that from the start," he said. "I do have a television show; it is a reality show."

A reporter asked: Did Comedy Central know about this?

"Oh, they do now," Fielder said.

No word on when a new season of his show will begin or what's next for Dumb Starbucks — though Fielder said he hopes to open a location in Brooklyn.