http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0126-9-cent-coffee-20120126,0,3825089.story?track=icymi
A sign advertises the 9-cent coffee at Philippe the Original just north of downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times / January 25, 2012)
Clip - article is longer -
Philippe's is best known for its legendary French dip sandwiches. But for regulars, nothing speaks to the eatery's historic L.A. feel than the 9-cent coffee on the menu. And the 1 extra cent of tax.
Since 1977, the legion of longtime customers at the restaurant on North Alameda Street north of downtown Los Angeles had grown accustomed to putting a dime on the counter and getting a hot cup of coffee in return.
But on Wednesday, management posted a surprising sign on the door: Starting Feb. 2, the price of an eight-ounce brew is going up 400% — to 45 cents. Add 5 cent tax and the total price is 50 cents.
end/clip
Sigh. I used to go there - not often, but once in a while.
Another thread on Phillippe's -
http://able2know.org/topic/114720-1