Grand View Topless Cafe Burns Down

Maine’s Topless Coffee Shop Burns Down

Posted by: Justine Fields Filed in: news
6:45AM, Thursday June 4th 2009

I’m one of those people that loves being naked. Ask anyone who has ever lived with me and they will tell you it’s my forte. Sadly, yesterday a coffee shop in Maine that shared my love of nakedness burned down. The Grand View Topless Café had been a huge success in Vassalboro, Maine since it opened February, due in large part to the half-naked wait staff. Relax, the servers were both male and female—the Grand View wasn’t just some pseudo Hooters. “We didn’t hire 10s,” the owner told CNN. “We hired everyone from skinny to big-boned.” Although many people in this small town were up in arms over the nudity when the place opened, the sex was selling. But, alas, the shop is no more. And the owner didn’t have insurance on the property. [Maine Today]

While the Grand View Topless Café rests in peace, let’s take a look at some other places where the topless business model prevails:

Interestingly, the little clothing/hot coffee combo has been done before. In Kent, Washington, there are so many drive-through espresso shops that, to set themselves apart, Cowgirls Espresso went bikini clad. In their triangle tops, the baristas offer more than just a drink. And they probably lure in lots folks who wouldn’t be caught dead in Starbucks. [Seattle Times] And SexxxPresso is a coffee shop done Las Vegas-style, with lingerie laden ladies serving the coffee. Their website even has a Bodacious Barista section. [Sexx Yes Presso]
If your car is dirty, why not have someone barely clothed give it a scrub? That’s the idea at a popular topless car wash in Greensboro, North Carolina. [NY Times] Across the country in Mascow, Idaho, both men and women bare their chests to wash cars at the Topless Car Wash. The regular car wash nearby lost about $100 a day as soon as it opened. [Seattle Pi]
While we know the whole woman-in-a-French-maid-costume is one of those strange male fantasies, this is taking it to the extreme. At Topless Cleaners in Southern California, women dust and vacuum in the nude. The company’s motto is “from dust to lust.” But there is one restriction—they won’t clean your toilet. [OC Weekly]

comments

Rachfrog
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 07:07 am: [report]

Boobies!

Mainer
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 07:29 am: [report]

It’s a sad day in Maine. No more will we be able to get sticky buns and a cup of joe while staring at a pair of tits. There were actually plans to extend the hours of operation until 1am and add a dj for the waitresses to dance to. Where else can we see that? Oh yeah…but wait, it wouldn’t be a strip club because, ready for this, there would be no alcohol. What a great idea: get men all hopped up on a substance thats sole purpose is to stimulate the body and throw in a couple of topless dancers. I’m sure that would have went over really well. Funny thing is, the town meeting that took place to discuss the expansion of the coffee shop was mere hours before it was set ablaze…...

I think the fact that some nut job went to such extremes as burning a building down to express their opposition to this establishment paints the town in more of a negative light than the topless coffee shop ever did, or would have continued to do so (which was the main objection from the townspeople to begin with).

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 07:35 am: [report]

The fire marshal said it was arson.

EastCoastMale
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 07:38 am: [report]

@Mainer, agreed

The fact that someone was sooo opposed to this establishment that they committed arson in order to express their opinion is scary. I just hope that it doesnt get taken lightly simply because of the target of his insanity, Im sure some will say that it was a good thing that it is no longer there but how would they feel if it was any other business. To me, protesting against a certain type of business or entity is like people that protest against radio content, if you dont like it dont go there, akin to changing the station. Nobody is forcing people to get coffee and donuts from them if they dont want to, go to one of the bazillion other coffee options. I personally hate hearing the argument that it is “against our moral fabric” or “casts a negative light on the town”, you know what casts a bad light? bringing so much damn attention to something that you obviously dont partake in. Want food in the nude? go there, if not? be civil or even better….quiet.

Mainer
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 07:48 am: [report]

@ EastCoastMale:

Could not agree more!! There are like 13 Dunkin Donuts in every town in New England, go there if you have a problem.

I never went to this place but it was definetly on my “places to go this summer” list. Mostly, I wanted to go just so I could laugh immaturely when they asked what size cup I wanted.

sailor_girl
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 07:52 am: [report]

I’m currently back in Maine for my sisters grad and I guess I tend to block out how close-minded people are here. I really can’t believe it lasted this long.

retro chic
wrote on June 4 2009 @ 08:32 am: [report]

No insurance and arson?—tsk, truly too bad. Sounded like most liked it. And I like their description of hiring practices: “Skinny to bigboned,” which might carry a broader meaning in, lets’ say, an Alaskan whaling community, lol.
Agree with ECM—just go somewhere else where moose and elk heads adorn the walls (jerk-offs).
Joe in the Raw? heehee… It’s a good thing they served coffee and not lobster.
Mainer: funny—I’m sure they heard and told a million of those, haha

damnIneedAjob
wrote on June 5 2009 @ 05:37 am: [report]

I am wondering if thsoe girls would be interested in one of my resume shirts? They are after all shirtless and jobless.

Larry
http://www.damnineedajob.com