Is there any history of this happening in alt-coins or other markets?

I'm curious to see the ways in which alt-coins will integrate themselves into society. Most of the stories I've read involve small merchants, such as food cart owners, accepting BTC and the like. It seems the power is definitely in the hands of the small business owners, because they are the ones who have discretion over their own finances and aren't beholden to a corporate office. I'm sure some of the more savvy business owners take multiple alt-coins as payment. I suppose sooner or later a wallet application will come out wherein one could pay with multiple coins for one item.