Herbert Hyman, who founded The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the 1960s and saw the chain grow to hundreds of stores around the world, has died in Southern California. He was 82.
A company statement announcing the death Thursday expressed condolences to the family and said Hyman had a passion for finding the highest quality coffee and tea around the world.
Hyman died Monday at his home in Camarillo.
He and his wife, Mona, opened a premium coffee store in 1963 after seeing similar shops during trips to her native Sweden.
The expanding business later added ice-blended drinks. Hyman sold the business in 1998. Today, it has more than 900 stores in 15 states and 29 countries.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
