In an area where good coffee is ubiquitous, how does one business stand apart from another? A diverse selection of low-fat bran muffins? Not for me. Free Norah Jones CD samplers? Nope. Sheer, baby-doll negligees with thigh-high boots? Sold.According to The Seattle Times, along the cluttered roadsides of Seattle's commuter towns, drive-through espresso bars are going to creative lengths to attract business, well, male business at least. These caffeinated joints feature "bodacious" baristas offering not just double macchiatos with almond biscotti, but "flirty service and revealing outfits" (including lingerie and "fetish" ensembles) at establishments with names such as Moka Girls, Bikini Espresso and Natté Latté.
While drive-throughs have long been part of Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:SBUX)'s business, many independent espresso stands popped up after the state's smoking ban went into effect a year ago. Says Lori Bowden, owner of Tukwila, Washington's Cowgirls Espresso stand, owners of bars, casinos and convenience-stores at that time began renting parking lot spots to espresso stands. And while the debate rages over who started the whole Red Light District element, no one argues that the Git-R-Done nation -- who might never have entered a Starbucks -- are now frequenting their establishments many times a day.
Offended local businesses have set up surveillance but no laws have been broken, as private parts -- including buttocks -- are always covered. Says Bowden, in spite of customer requests "there will be no 'Thong Thursdays.'"
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 10)
1-27-2007 @ 7:51PM
chuck said...
My daughter works at Hooters & makes GREAT money and has a great time doing it- She does this by her own choice even after consulting her father(me) about it- She's a grown adult who can and does make her own decisions. we even discussed the pros & cons at great length before she took the job. What's so different between working at Hooters or an espresso stand? not a lot that either I or my daughter see! As far as women being exploited,I ask you- how many of you women out there have stuffed bills into a man's G-string at an all male revue?? Is that not exploiting men?? Y'all need to seriously get over it!Just what do you think they do it for? The attention & the money,right?? Big brother watches us enough without moral pushing morons getting into the act! We are no longer in the age of the puritans, so frankly, it all comes down to if you got it, flaunt it, so I say again, get over it!!! Or would some of you women out there like your coffee served to you by a man in a thong?? hey, what's good for the goose......
1-27-2007 @ 7:56PM
DPB1949 said...
I like the idea very much. I just wish they were in North Carolina. Sex is everywhere, always has been, always will be. Remember, they are selling COFFEE,.... not themselves.
1-28-2007 @ 4:32AM
solo said...
Oooh this is just sick and disgusting...........I love it!!.I still don't believe it, I need some kind of pictures or a footage. Is it a franchise? where do I sign?.
1-27-2007 @ 7:58PM
Mark said...
Geez, I have so much I'd like to say. But, unlike many others here, I'll try to keep it on topic.
I think a full half of these posts would not be here if people would READ THE ORIGINAL BLOG! All the way through.
This is not a strip joint. The girls - however young they might be - are covered where it matters. I suggest some of you posters visit a beach or public pool. There are a lot of females wearing less than these coffee places. It's true I haven't been to anything sexier than a Starbucks for coffee, but I HAVE been to the beach. And, yeah, they DO fall out of their clothes from time to time. Or more.
What if your 15 year old went in? Well, s/he'd likely have more to worry about than a (non) naked girl. Like breaking and entering. You DO know what a drive-through is, right?
I guess it's kinda like what McD's found out - you shouldn't put the hot stuff between your legs.
1-27-2007 @ 9:01PM
Steve said...
Jackie (#12), you are wacky. Obviously, you have never seen male strippers. And Ladies, get used to being looked at if you are hot. Guys will stare you down even if you wear hide me clothes like the large girls do.
1-27-2007 @ 10:38PM
Annette said...
It's funny how everytime guys I know want to see more of this kind of thing, they can't stand the thought of it if it involves their mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, girlfriends, wives, and ESPECIALLY their daughters. Tell a guy you'd love to see his grandma working there and he'll get teeed off totally. The double standard for guys is that they take on the role of protector for their female relatives and the women they "own" (girlfriends/wives/daughters) but they're more than willing to exploit another man's women. And a lot of women like it that way, apparently ... even though they have to get all catty about trying to make sure Daddy doesn't find out where they work. Kind of weird how parents of high school girls are letting them work in places that demand short skirts - must be a lot of single moms pimping their slutty daughters, or dads behaving as Baby Pimps. People DO think it's weird when a man is proud that his daughter is a hot little slut.
1-27-2007 @ 9:42PM
DSE said...
Bottom line on this, SEX SELLS. Yes, it is sexist; Yes, the women are being exploited—no difference between sex selling coffee than sex selling wings at Hooters. Would I want my daughter to do it? No. Would I have considered doing something like this when younger? Maybe—to make ends meet. Would I have wanted my daddy to know? NO! This is the state of our society and current economics. Turn on the TV. We are bombarded by sex and sexuality everywhere we look. Personally I liked the more innocent times of years past, but we will never go back. The innocence is gone. That’s sad, but it’s over—get over it. If you don’t like it, don’t go there for your cup of joe. Are they hurting anyone? It’s an honest living for all. I say BFD.
1-28-2007 @ 5:13AM
Guy in CA said...
Is this place owned in all or part by Victoria's Secret? Would make for good cross advertising. There are men dressed in this fashion at work: think Chippendale or Thunder Down Under. When I bartended I wore tight, revealing Levi's to get better tips, and I'm sure the tips are more than the wages they're making. Still, if you can't make a good cup of coffee the place will go under.
1-28-2007 @ 9:24PM
Darlene said...
ALLRIGHTY THEN.....and when are Women going to have "men" sexpresso cafe's ????
1-28-2007 @ 10:48AM
Ordinary Average Guy said...
Such emotion! All this feminist outrage. Stop whining over reality! Come to terms with reality and embrase it! You'll enjoy life a lot more and go a lot further in life as well. Are these sexy young women being exploited? If anyone is being exploited we'd have to say these hotties are exploiting themselves, or that they are exploiting their primarily male clientele by flaunting their sex appeal. These women aren't being raped. They aren't enslaved, forced against their will to fulfill their customers' sexual desires. Everything is of their own free will. No reason for whining and feminist outcries! As long as humans have walked the face of this planet, men have desired sex. It's a long know fact that men tend to be visually stimulated. Men are programmed to seek out a woman who displays a strong sexual desirability. A woman has got to be good for having sex with before she can become good as a mother for a man's offspring. Women on the other hand are programmed to seek out a man who is fertile and capable of providing desirable seed, and at the same time, very importantly, capable of providing food and shelter for the woman and offspring. For thousands of years, intelligent women, who understand reality (rather than fight against it and whine about it), have been cleverly flaunting their sexuality, flirting with men, seducing men and manipulating with their erotic appeal to get what they want and need in life from men. What's new? Nothing! These coffee hotties understand human nature and they are capitalizing on it while the feminists are complaining about how unfair it all is. Who knows how to get what she wants in life when she wants it? A coffee hottie or the crabby feminists? Hum. Any mystery over this one? The coffee hotties are thriving in business and having fun while they do it, and if they want a man they can pick and choose. Poor feminists... guess they'll just have to whine.
1-28-2007 @ 5:19PM
DOLBY said...
Yes, how 'bout some Dicklicious Donuts hand delivered and some dominator coffee to go....
1-28-2007 @ 5:55PM
guppy said...
It tells us Melissa, that women are the only ones who want to sell themselves for the extra dollar tip....duh!!!!
1-28-2007 @ 7:02PM
Carl said...
What no one understands is that everytime some woman dresses as a hooker for some company to attract male clients, she becomes part of the larger problem of the general exploitation and objectification of women for the pleasure of men. She may like the attention and the money and it may be her so-called choice, but she is contributing to the idea that permeates this culture that women's worth is based on their appearance, rather than their accomplishments or brain power. Once women are so objectified, it becomes easier to abuse them, use them and subjugate them. Get it??
1-28-2007 @ 7:13PM
Sally said...
applause for carl
you dictated exactly what I was thinking
1-29-2007 @ 7:49PM
Victoria said...
I Agree! I went into a Family Restaraunt with my family on a weekend to find that our waitress was dressed with her belly button showing with a peircing at the naval and I did talk to the owner about the dress code and the next time she came back to our table her shirt was down and let me tell you at seat level the last thing I want to see on Sunday morning is a girls peircing belly button in my face while Im ordering my coffee, Im sure that most would not have said a word but think about this would you like to picture your cook in the kitchen with his belly sticking out over your eggs and bacon... Not! I think that while serving thing that we consume you should be dressed its just sanitary. And by the way Im not fat In fact very tall 5'10" 150 slender great figure and would still feel that one should have proper clothing as a server
2-03-2007 @ 5:11PM
cathy said...
hmmm...I'm a Realtor...this could be a way to increase sales...the receptionist could dress in a bikini...the office manager could wear a thong and push up bra...i could show property in a cute but very revealing teddy and thigh high boots...the girl at the title company could maybe go topless except for maybe 'pasties' and the mortgage gal could just wear a pair of stilettos...hey, do you think this could work for me?
1-28-2007 @ 11:08PM
RLH said...
Jesus Christ said "What will a Man give in exchange for his soul?" This causes lust, and we have more than we need of that already. Don't like what it says, take it up with God, he's the one that said it.
1-28-2007 @ 11:24PM
DIAMOND said...
WOW, How could you begin to judge something when you don't know about it??? I have personally been to the Cowgirl espresso in Tukwila, Wa, and it is now that bad. It is flirty enough to attract attention and spice things up, but definitely not trashy!!!!!
1-29-2007 @ 1:25AM
artrogish said...
The articals says "Lori Bowden, owner of Tukwila, Washington's Cowgirls Espresso ". So if a female is exploiting the female workers to make money off of the customers, and there is one or more female customer, then who is really exploiting whom?
1-29-2007 @ 6:43AM
susy said...
Of course, being female, I'm not for these establishments and I tend to click with the majority of the womens thinking. With that said however, if it weren't for the women that work at these establishments then this debate wouldn't even be happening - so really, why do we even blame the men? We should be bear some responsibility of the women working at these establishments. Can't blame the guys.