Changes coming to Kitsap Co. 'sexpresso' stands
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GORST, Wash. -- Sex sells, and that's especially true in the drive-thru espresso business.
But in Kitsap County, enough complaints came in about the scantily clad baristas that country commissioners laid down the law on some changes.
Managers at a car dealership next to one "sexpresso" stand say they added a row of trees to shield customers from the seeing inside the stand.
Love them or hate them, so-called bikini baristas are here to stay in Kitsap County. But thanks to a newly-passed county ordinance, their bare bottoms and pasty-covered breasts will soon be hidden from public view.
"The general passing public, we were trying to create a barrier that they wouldn't have to see things they've complained about that they didn't want to see," said Heather Adams.
Adams, who works in county planning, said business owners have 60 days to put some sort of screen or barrier at least 8-feet tall outside their stands.
"This is something that I agree with. I don't mind shielding from the people that don't want to see it," said JJ Wilson, who owns two adult espresso stands in Gorst.
Just across the street is Café Europa, which was built there specifically to provide a family friendly alternative.
"You feel much appreciated. All the customers thank you for it," said "family friendly" barista Katrina Haymaker.
Haymaker said she hears from shocked customers all the time.
"(They say) 'Oh my goodness. Thank you. You have clothes on. We went across the street. We didn't know.' "(They are) very surprised," she said.
Also part of the new ordinance, any business that has employees in pasties, g-strings or other states of partial nudity must post a sign warning others that the business is not family friendly.
"I think it will help a lot," Haymaker said. "Because, you know, they drive up and see our sign so at least they'll know not to go there."
And how will the new rule be enforced?
"We're going to assume that they're abiding by the rules until it comes to our attention otherwise, and then it becomes a code enforcement action at that time," Adams said.
But in Kitsap County, enough complaints came in about the scantily clad baristas that country commissioners laid down the law on some changes.
Managers at a car dealership next to one "sexpresso" stand say they added a row of trees to shield customers from the seeing inside the stand.
Love them or hate them, so-called bikini baristas are here to stay in Kitsap County. But thanks to a newly-passed county ordinance, their bare bottoms and pasty-covered breasts will soon be hidden from public view.
"The general passing public, we were trying to create a barrier that they wouldn't have to see things they've complained about that they didn't want to see," said Heather Adams.
Adams, who works in county planning, said business owners have 60 days to put some sort of screen or barrier at least 8-feet tall outside their stands.
"This is something that I agree with. I don't mind shielding from the people that don't want to see it," said JJ Wilson, who owns two adult espresso stands in Gorst.
Just across the street is Café Europa, which was built there specifically to provide a family friendly alternative.
"You feel much appreciated. All the customers thank you for it," said "family friendly" barista Katrina Haymaker.
Haymaker said she hears from shocked customers all the time.
"(They say) 'Oh my goodness. Thank you. You have clothes on. We went across the street. We didn't know.' "(They are) very surprised," she said.
Also part of the new ordinance, any business that has employees in pasties, g-strings or other states of partial nudity must post a sign warning others that the business is not family friendly.
"I think it will help a lot," Haymaker said. "Because, you know, they drive up and see our sign so at least they'll know not to go there."
And how will the new rule be enforced?
"We're going to assume that they're abiding by the rules until it comes to our attention otherwise, and then it becomes a code enforcement action at that time," Adams said.
Years ago there was a movement in this country about women being exploited as sex objects and that brought some changes and basically started the sexual harassment thing. Because of that there was even more lawsuits and as people became uncomfortable with the possibility of being sued by offending someone our country changed in ways that are still being dealt with today. It doesn't matter so much if the women participate wilingly as it does if there's a potential for a lawsuit as a result.
What exactly do guys get out of these? All you're getting is a coffee and that's about it. It's not like they're strippers or escort services, let alone get a date, and it's not like you don't see that kind of stuff, or more on the internet already. But I guess it works, so what do I know? I do know if I were a coffee drinker, it wouldn't influence me. (Of course I would also be boycotting Starbucks.) ;)
@Zoso What do guys get? A fairly large dose of feel good chemicals from the brain. The male brain rewards its owner any time he sees a sexually attractive woman in a nude or near nude state. They are peddling powerful drugs at these stands - and I'm not talking about the caffeine.
Wait⦠so a family went up to an espresso stand with a name of âEspresso gone crazyâ and a profile of a woman, and they did not know it was one of âthoseâ stands? Come on, open your eyes folks!
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Same thing for those not wanting to see it. Why are you looking? It takes very little effort to avert those eyes or move your body away from it if its so upsetting. I mean my god they are showing some skin⦠itâs the end of the world!
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I donât particularly like those people in downtown that scream out loud preaching whatever beliefs they have. But I donât go expecting them to be removed or silenced. One itâs their right to free speech, and secondly⦠really I donât have to listen or pay attention. Why is someone inside an espresso stand any different simply because they are scantily clad? Nobody is forcing you to look or go in there.
But then again, the complaints filed may be those of the competition and prudes, of men or manatees that are not confident to seriously able sport the attire.............
So the city is willing to put the girls at risk of being robbed in the name of protecting someone from possibly catching a glimpse of something that they might deem objectionable? That makes perfect sense. Funny thing is, the only way you could see anything inside the stands in question is if you WANTED TO. I have driven by them hundreds of times, and they are set back off the road with fences on the sides.Â
@JK15 These stands are already at a higher risk for being robbed and in fact they DO get robbed frequently, at least here in Pierce County. They are an easy target, period, with or without barriers.
 @JK15 I drive by those stands a couple times a month. If you are moving, there is NO way you can see inside those stands. I never even knew which stands they were until my wife was driving and I was able to look to the side of the road and see the signs. I think if you see an outline of a nude woman on the sign, it SHOULD give you a clue. And the word "Pastie" should be a dead giveaway. But I guess people are stupid!
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Now I guess I will have to stop and oogle the girls next time I drive by. The idea of getting coffee from a Barista wearing pasties and a G string sounds titillating.
 @JK15 Its good for the business of law enforcement. Keep making it easier for criminals and then the cops have something  to do other than hang out at donut stands.
way too many hypocracy laws.......... you would think the prudish folks would just purchase a latte machine for their home, and avoid that business that offends them so.........
But then again, the complaints filed may be those of the competition and prudes, of men or manatees that are not confident to sport the attire.............
 @Chorge You would think, but this starts getting down to the mortality police and people not like what others do.  There are tons of things I don't like so I don't do them but I don't try and stop others from doing them.
I think these fences are going to create more problems than the solve. Criminals now have visual protection from people seeing what they are doing so they will feel safer holding these places up and I also fear what they may do outside of trying to getting money.
Think of the children!!!
 @Count_Screamalot Thats parents job to protect their children, not tax payers and certainly not the governments.
@Count_Screamalot don't take your children there.........is that to difficult for you and the community to understand.........?
@Chorge Sarcasm doesn't translate well over the Internet.
 @Melissa Angevine  @Count_Screamalot I got it too especially with your picture, name and thinking of the count screaming "thing of the children bwah ahah"
 @Count_Screamalot Don't worry, i got the sarcasm. :)
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Ok. A little ordinance. Now, bikini girls get to work and shocked middle-age women and small innocent kids don't have to look at them. Done and done. Next.
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@deadcandance Some look even better. Plus they have maturity and that gives them a leg up on the competitiion in many cases.
1st Amendment Separation of church and state applies. All these ridiculous morality laws are religion based and are not allowed by the constitution. If you don't like looking at scantily clad women, don't look. Had one of these religious cults that got together and shut down the one that was in Belfair a couple of years ago.
 @Blindman There were no espresso stands at the Founding of the Republic. According to a  Progressive line of reasoning on the 2nd (muskets only!), the 1st Amendment should only apply to speeches and pamphlets.
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Now we can look forward to our village-(not smart guy) oppose theft laws because of that religious command, "Don't steal."
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In some of these one horse towns its the only highlight of the day...
If I had no clothes, nor did I want one is the government then requiring me to buy clothes? Â If I have no money would the government than provide clothes for me even if I don't want them?
I have always wondered how our society would be different if we treated the human body as a beautiful and natural thing and not something to be hidden and is disregardful.  Would our children not have so many body issues, would they have more self confidence, would we have better appreciation for art.  I do think very little good can come from treating the human body as a bad thing.
 I totally agree about the body and its beauty, and learning a healthy relationship to it. But there's a big difference between appreciating the body and appreciating art, and watching the body be prostituted.   @APenny4MyThoughts
 @kitsapuser  @APenny4MyThoughts If a woman chooses to do this completely of her own accord, its fine. My sister was a stripper for a year and it was never an issue. It was just another part time job. If you treat it like its degrading to view the body it will be degrading but if you appreciate that the body is something we all have and that we can all be proud of, its not going to be a problem for anyone.
 @kitsapuser But does the current standard we have increase the "body be prostituted" demand?  And just to throw this out there I have no problems with prostitution and wish it would be legal as it two adults doing what they want and the government should not be the morality police.
 @APenny4MyThoughts I think we would see far less eating disorders and body dismorphia.Â
Speaks volumes of the American society... sad really. Promote violence, death and destruction. Heaven forbid a girl is bathing suit serves coffee. Just say NO to boobies. You'd never make it in Europe folks.Â
 @d_2 Well the first settlers of this country, were puritans and come from Europe cause they thought it was to sinful(for lack of a better word).  But I agree think we would have grown up a little and not treat the body or nudity as a bad thing when we glorify things that are actually bad/unnatural.
 @APenny4MyThoughts  @d_2 Like how the glorifying the sexual objectification of women is bad perhaps?
 @domino Not sure if you are saying that the way they are glorify women as sexual object is bad.  But I truly don't care if they are or not they are adults they can make that decision for themselves.  If I want to be a glorified sexual object or a teacher of a religion its my choice.
I'm not so concerned about this, but I think we should start a donation fund to help KOMO news writers learn grammar and spelling. It's chronic. Obviously written by "country bumpkins".
@Bellevue Scott Get a life if all you have to do is complain about grammar....
I just don't think it's fair to heterosexual women and gay men. Where are the stands with the eye-candy, mostly naked, hot-looking men serving up coffee? Let's be equal here!!!
@tats76 At least a guy could stir the coffee drink for you.
 @tats76 Too right! If we did have a Studly Hungwell stand we'd hear the straight guys screaming in protest about how 'sick and gross' it was to have a sexy young guy serving coffee while wearing skimpy swim wear.
 @domino  @tats76 There was one in Graham right next to a bikini espresso stand. It closed down due to a lack of business, not a bunch of straight guys crying about how "sick and gross" it was.Â
@tats76  Its about money, not equality. Men vote with their wallets and shop at these places. Most women would not go to a male expresso place even if the men were mostly naked. Supply AND demand.
 @tats76 If there is money it it I'm sure someone would start.  But I think it would have to be done somewhere with a large population so their would be enough customers looking for that.
Americans need to grow the heck up and realize the body is nothing to shield your kids from, nothing to be scared of. As long as the women take care of themselves, what does it matter?
 @quidproquo Hold on. The human body is one thing but being deliberately provocative is something completely different.
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I'm going to call you on this too, "As long as the women take care of themselves"
So, you mean no fatties or girls who don't meet your appearance standards need apply?
 @domino  @quidproquo domino hit the nail on the head. Everyone here is all gung ho to let these places be and insisting that any naysayers are religious prudes, but only on the assumption that the girls working there are pinup material.
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Nudity per se is totally different than sexpresso.Â
 @quidproquo I was sitting in on a production meeting for a local comedy club that had a higher end act coming in.  I got to talking to one of his people who works in the adult business and he said that the normal stuff brings in okay money but everyone does it. The real money is in the fetish world.  I don't know if this would work out in public where you don't have the world at your keyboard but it could.  Maybe all the woman would support these girls as being brave and true inspirations to not feel bad as the don't fit what the media says is normal.
 @kitsapuser  @domino I am absolutely positive that a BBW expresso stand would do just as well, maybe even better because fetish stuff brings in more money than the "generic" women
 @kitsapuser  @domino I meant take care of themselves in the whole mental health aspect level of things. If they feel like they are degrading themselves then they shouldn't do it but if they feel comfortable with themselves and their bodies than it shouldn't be a problem for anyone else either.
"Oh my goodness -- thank you! You have clothes on!"Â :)
Just wish we had some of these in Silverdale! o.O
@Erxkeel In Federal Way tooooooooooo!!!!!