Obit of the Day: "America's First Supermarket of Culture" With a $2,000 loan, Bob Hare opened a coffee shop in the seaside town of Hermosa Beach. Since it stayed open until 3:00 am, Hare named it The Insomniac Café. Apparently the need for coffee and culture in the town was acute as he made $100,000 in his first year of business. Once Hare opened his café for performances, artists of all types headed to Hermosa Beach including Allen Ginsburg who read his iconic poem, "Howl," comedian Lenny Bruce, and a young singer named Linda Rondstadt. As the Insomniac became more popular, Hare expanded the café to include an art gallery, bookstore, and record store; creating the "cultural supermarket." (See above) But the success was short-lived and the café was knocked down in 1963, only five years after opening. The town took Hare's property under eminent domain and replaced it with a parking lot. Hare was 80 when he died. (Image courtesy of Beatnik Beach on MySpace)