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This Small Town Ain't No Mayberry

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 ...

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 was a GOVERNING staff writer and technology columnist.