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Some L.A. Residents Were Pleasantly Surprised to Find a ‘Dumb Starbucks’ Had Opened in Their Neighborhood. TV Personality Admits He’s Behind the Parody

Feb 11, 2014  •  Post A Comment

A television personality who is the star of a cable series revealed that he’s behind a pop-up parody of Starbucks called “Dumb Starbucks,” a Los Angeles shop that was swarmed with customers. USA Today reports that writer and comedian Nathan Fielder, who stars in the Comedy Central series “Nathan for You,” made the revelation Monday afternoon.

Fielder spoke to journalists, playing it straight as a business owner trying to keep his store open, the piece says. But he admitted that he opened the parody shop to tape segments for his program.

He ended the press conference when the local health department arrived and told the store to stop serving coffee. The shop was then closed by the Los Angeles Health Department for operating without a permit.

"We’ve been wondering what this was about for four days," Rebecca Metz, a Los Angeles resident, told the publication. “I wish it was a political statement or a kooky artist, but it’s a really smart marketing stunt."

How does the real Starbucks feel about the stunt? Notes the story, "Starbucks says it is evaluating how to proceed. ‘While we appreciate the humor, they cannot use our name, which is a protected trademark.’"

Meanwhile, Baristas struggled to keep up with demand Monday morning at Dumb Starbucks, as 300 people were waiting for free coffee and pastries.

Here’s a video Fielder made and posted on YouTube before he admitted the store was connected to his TV show.

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