Topless coffee shop a hit in small Maine town

[rebeccajo 14]

(CNN) -- It's a tough time for businesses, but one entrepreneur may have found the recipe for success.

The coffee shop has been open less than a week. So far the customers are mostly couples and women.

The coffee shop has been open less than a week. So far the customers are mostly couples and women.

On Monday, Donald Crabtree opened Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, Maine, where the waiters and waitresses serve their customers topless.

In a town with fewer than 4,500 residents, the topless coffee shop is booming with business. Paul Crabtree, the owner's brother, describes business so far as "fantastic."

"It's just been crowds mobbing in," he said.

Donald Crabtree faced initial opposition to his plan, but he won the right to go ahead in a planning board hearing last week. Many local residents were irate over the idea of combining coffee and nudity. Crabtree, however, saw a profitable business venture.

"I know what people want," he said. "People like nudity, and coffee is profitable. Sure, I'd start a coffee shop, but I'd be out of work in a week."

The flood of job applications -- more than 150 -- for Grand View Topless Coffee Shop reflected the rough job market.

Crabtree hired 10 women and five men under stringent requirements, including friendliness and, what he considered most important, that the wait staff "treat everyone equally."

"We didn't hire '10s,' " he said, referring to appearance. "We hired everyone from skinny to big-boned women."

Of the 15 selected, most had been laid off from other jobs in the past few months.

Elvis Thompson of Brunswick, for example, was a line cook at a restaurant before he lost his job. "They couldn't afford me anymore," he said.

He said he doesn't mind fielding interesting requests from customers.

"An 80-year-old woman told me she wanted to see me in spandex," Thompson said. "I just feel really lucky to have a job. I need the money so I can pay my rent."

Ginni Labree from Palermo, Maine, said she applied to several restaurants before being hired at the Grand View. All the restaurants declined to hire her because of her lack of experience.

"I'm so excited, so excited to have a job," she said.

The coffee shop jobs are paying off. One waitress received a $100 tip for a cup of coffee, and most of the wait staff make about $30 a table.

Although the topless coffee shop has been open less than a week, Crabtree said he is already seeing regulars. Customers include a variety of individuals, but mainly couples and females.

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He also sees his new business venture as a temporary fix for customers struggling through tough economic times.

"The economy is so bad," Crabtree said, "Everyone's losing their homes, their ties, everything they own. People leave here happy and can't wait to come back. It's nice to see people smile again."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/27/topless.c...shop/index.html

[JODO 2]

Is this the store they call Top Shop?

[KikuyuLove 0]

Gives a new meaning to topping up!

[Jasman0717 9]

That would be a long ways for me to drive for a cup of coffee. Claudeth, pack the bags

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Pictures, or it didn't happen!

[Nagishkaw 510]

That would be a long ways for me to drive for a cup of coffee. Claudeth, pack the bags

Are you heading to Hootersville?

[Mina76 0]

Hey, whatever suits their fancy!

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

Just don't order the Latte.

[Jasman0717 9]

That would be a long ways for me to drive for a cup of coffee. Claudeth, pack the bags

Are you heading to Hootersville?

Claudeth said she was thinking of applying for work at Hooters she does qualify

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That would be a long ways for me to drive for a cup of coffee. Claudeth, pack the bags

Are you heading to Hootersville?

Claudeth said she was thinking of applying for work at Hooters she does qualify

Lucky you! I just asked my wife, and she said, "No! I would not!"

[defunct 0]

Yay for an equal-opportunity employer.

And I agree with Mister_Bill - where are the pictures that accompany this story??

[Ban Hammer 13,367]

i want some milk in my coffee

[Time2gopeacefully 0]

i want some milk in my coffee

LOL...God bless you Sir Charles! you always say like it's

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

i like mine perky.

Daniel

[panamania79 2]

(CNN) -- It's a tough time for businesses, but one entrepreneur may have found the recipe for success.

The coffee shop has been open less than a week. So far the customers are mostly couples and women.

The coffee shop has been open less than a week. So far the customers are mostly couples and women.

On Monday, Donald Crabtree opened Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, Maine, where the waiters and waitresses serve their customers topless.

In a town with fewer than 4,500 residents, the topless coffee shop is booming with business. Paul Crabtree, the owner's brother, describes business so far as "fantastic."

"It's just been crowds mobbing in," he said.

Donald Crabtree faced initial opposition to his plan, but he won the right to go ahead in a planning board hearing last week. Many local residents were irate over the idea of combining coffee and nudity. Crabtree, however, saw a profitable business venture.

"I know what people want," he said. "People like nudity, and coffee is profitable. Sure, I'd start a coffee shop, but I'd be out of work in a week."

The flood of job applications -- more than 150 -- for Grand View Topless Coffee Shop reflected the rough job market.

Crabtree hired 10 women and five men under stringent requirements, including friendliness and, what he considered most important, that the wait staff "treat everyone equally."

"We didn't hire '10s,' " he said, referring to appearance. "We hired everyone from skinny to big-boned women."

Of the 15 selected, most had been laid off from other jobs in the past few months.

Elvis Thompson of Brunswick, for example, was a line cook at a restaurant before he lost his job. "They couldn't afford me anymore," he said.

He said he doesn't mind fielding interesting requests from customers.

"An 80-year-old woman told me she wanted to see me in spandex," Thompson said. "I just feel really lucky to have a job. I need the money so I can pay my rent."

Ginni Labree from Palermo, Maine, said she applied to several restaurants before being hired at the Grand View. All the restaurants declined to hire her because of her lack of experience.

"I'm so excited, so excited to have a job," she said.

The coffee shop jobs are paying off. One waitress received a $100 tip for a cup of coffee, and most of the wait staff make about $30 a table.

Although the topless coffee shop has been open less than a week, Crabtree said he is already seeing regulars. Customers include a variety of individuals, but mainly couples and females.

advertisement

He also sees his new business venture as a temporary fix for customers struggling through tough economic times.

"The economy is so bad," Crabtree said, "Everyone's losing their homes, their ties, everything they own. People leave here happy and can't wait to come back. It's nice to see people smile again."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/27/topless.c...shop/index.html

Oh my they have finally loosened up "down east."