Bill Wheeler of Grab 'N' Go Espresso hit on a winning formula for competing against Starbucks: make the baristas as stimulating as the coffee!
Espresso drive-through stands with bikini- and lingerie-sporting baristas are popping up from Monroe to Edmonds. In the past year, at least six of these java joints employing provocatively dressed young women have opened in the county.
A few owners of these roadside stands say business is so brisk, they're hiring more employees and have plans to open new locations. "I brought a touch of Vegas back to Washington," said Bill Wheeler, who opened Grab 'N' Go Espresso on Highway 99 just south of Everett last year.
Wheeler says he aims to soon operate a dozen stands in Washington and Nevada, including one with male baristas in tight Speedos and bowties. Sometimes wearing little more than pasties and bikini bottoms, the scantily clad baristas at Wheeler's stands have scores of well-tipping customers.
Other businesses in the area aren't so thrilled at the "sexpresso" stand:
Some stands are trying to cash in on the backlash. They are displaying family-friendly signs and other messages including "We Make it Hot with our Tops On," "R-rated Coffee; PG-rated Girls" and "Known 4 Coffee Not Cleavage!"
And there's plenty of trash talking across the coffee divide. Sara Barnfather, 22, a barista with Stars and Stripes Espresso in Everett, said she's "proud to be classy, not trashy."
"If you like nipples and third-degree burns, go for it," she said. "But it's not my cup of tea."
David Chircop of Hearld Net did the uh, media coverage: Link - via
Some of these overly vocal opponents maybe need to switch to decaf.
re: "Slut hut?" I lol'd!
It's full of those cafe's here, and in some of them, the windows are polarized because girls work as baristas and prostitutes lol.
All the tourist go to the cafe con piernas, i'ts like a national attraction.
Idiocracy. Watch the intro at least:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upyewL0oaWA
I think most people who buy coffee just want decent-tasting caffeine.
Latte: $300
"Hot" Latte: $600
....
I am torn on this though, because this is acceptable in other countries and America does still have a tendency to cling to it's Puritan roots (whether that's good or bad is another debate). I think, well, we need to be open-minded about business and capitolism is all about competition. But then, where does the line stop at competition? How far do we push it?
Then there's going to be the "Oh my god, now little girls will grow up thinking they have to strip to make money!" people.
I just think it's kinda tasteless and pointless. It doesn't anger me but I guess I'm not completely comfortable with the idea...
Interesting stories do come out of this though. Some girls got pissed when guys started photographing them. Another girl got mad when some guy said "Aren't you going to take your top off?" Or there's supposedly one stand where they just put stars over the inappropriate areas and its okay because they're covered..
Problem is these places do well. If people want sexually stimulated coffee, let them. If you don't like it, go to McDonald's, because their mcafe is cheap as hell, and the workers keep their clothes on.
They're not actually squeezing the milk out of their boobs.
Are they?