"Blank Street is taking over New York with its unescapable blah-ness. Once an electric-powered coffee cart launched in 2020, it now boasts 40 locations in NYC. Known for affordability, a 16-ounce iced latte costs $4.25 compared to Dunkin's $3.75 and Starbucks' $5.50. The chain emphasizes automation and efficacy but is criticized for its sterile modernism and for threatening local coffee shops by opening nearby. Backed by private equity, including Tishman Speyer, it continues to expand rapidly." - Emma Orlow