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I'll Have A Non-Coffee Chocolate Ice Blended In His Honor, Please
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Dead: Herb Hyman, at 82. Who? Well, he founded The Coffee Been and Tea Leaf, the L.A.-based coffee house chain, and, along with Alfred H. Peet, who started his own eponymous chain, he's credited with inventing the modern chain coffee house, before there was a Starbucks. He created the store, catered to Hollywood celebs, and grew it from a few stores in the late '60s to a big deal by the late '80s, driven by the invention of the "Ice Blended." Also interesting: In 1991, Starbucks tried to buy him out and threatened to surround his stores with their own outlets if he didn't sell. He didn't sell, and it turned out to be great for his own chain, with Starbucks managing to increase sales for Coffee Bean, too. He sold out in '98, and if you're addicted to your lattés every morning, blame him. (Los Angeles Times)
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