This Small Town Ain't No Mayberry

Posted By Ellen Perlman | March 13, 2009

Comments

Commented March 18, 2009

Budgeting just isn't sexy. Plus, it's a much harder problem to solve these days.

Wait a minute. Topless coffee shops are allowed? Unless otherwise specified?

I ask because a topless coffee shop opened in Vassalboro, Maine, and the only way to prevent copycat businesses -- say, a topless auto shop or a topless supermarket -- is to pass an ordinance to ban nudity at town businesses. Is this true in all municipalities? Nudity allowed until specified otherwise? Who knew?

The Vassalboro town manager wrote an ordinance prohibiting nudity at businesses that is now at the ready. But it won't go to voters until a town meeting in June.

Not that it would matter to the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop (I'm guessing the name of the place doesn't refer to the vistas out the front windows?). The shop would be grandfathered in.

Coffee, anyone?

Ellen Perlman

Ellen Perlman was a GOVERNING staff writer and technology columnist.

E-mail: mailbox@governing.com

Comments

Deborah Johnson    |    Commented March 16, 2009 Who knew? Anybody who's worked for a jurisdiction where this same issue has come up. Often the regulated uses have been in the form of strip clubs, adult bookstores, etc. To some degree nudity is protected by constitutional freedom of expression, and it sounds as though Vassalboro needs to look at an adult use ordinance (not merely a nudity ban). These same type of coffee bars have cropped up in the Pacific NW but are not topless, instead are "bikini barista" establishments. However, "bikini" is a liberal interpretation when the attire reportedly consists of pasties and some kind of "coverage" on the bottom held in place with wires. It's 40 degrees out and pouring down rain right now; I can't believe some of these girls don't end up with pneumonia. And then what, a workers' comp claim?!
Ellen    |    Commented March 16, 2009 Deborah,

Yes, I guess I did know. But it's always interesting when a new town is caught by surprise...
Maybe someone should start a national "Write an Adult-Use Ordinance Day" and get this over with for once and for all?

Ellen
Chris    |    Commented March 16, 2009 What's wrong with bare breasts?
Forbes    |    Commented March 16, 2009 It's called the "Grand View Topless Coffee Shop" for a reason, apparently. (So no one is confused by what they encounter. Caveat emptor, anyone?) You can always take your purchases elsewhere. No one is required to enter the premises.
Lea    |    Commented March 16, 2009 This is actually quite common in Westminster, CA and really big in the Vietnamese culture. There are more than 10 of these coffee shops in my area. It's not sleezy though, just scantilly-clad Asian women who occasionally take their top off for a bigger tip.

Ellen    |    Commented March 16, 2009 Lea,

Really? Interesting. It sounds like few in Westminster have taken offense or there would have been an ordinance written or attempted?

cansarnoso    |    Commented March 16, 2009 latte? anybody
Doug    |    Commented March 16, 2009 Uhh, where in westminster is that? Strictly for research you know...
j.hart    |    Commented March 17, 2009 Lea, when you say:
It's not sleezy though, just scantilly-clad Asian women who occasionally take their top off for a bigger tip.
A number of people (self included) would argue that scantily-clad women who will flash you for money is pretty darn sleazy. Seems like in this case the main question would be what, exactly, is visible from the street...
Deborah Johnson    |    Commented March 17, 2009 I hate to get all racial about it...but since I do have some experience with Asian businesses, some of the shops featuring scantily-clad women in the front room have an entirely different kind of operation going in the back room...and yes, it's that "bigger tip" that will get you admitted to the club. Before folks start slamming me, I'm NOT saying all Asian businesses are this way, but some are. I've seen the police reports. As Lea points out, it's a cultural thing.
Ellen    |    Commented March 17, 2009 Hm. I'm wondering why we never get this many comments when we write about, say, procurement reform or budgeting?
Any grand, or should I say "grand view" ideas??
Deborah Johnson    |    Commented March 18, 2009 Budgeting just isn't sexy. Plus, it's a much harder problem to solve these days.

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