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Topless Coffee Shop Brews Up Media Storm

March 03, 2009 - VASSALBORO -- How long does it take to go from local controversy to national celebrity?

Apparently, a matter of days.

That's what has happened to the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop, which opened its doors to the public Monday. By Friday, owner Donald Crabtree had been inundated with calls from newspapers, bloggers, and television and radio stations across the country.

And from Germany.

Even "Late Show with David Letterman" came calling. Producers said they were interested in filming at the coffee shop for an upcoming show. But by Friday, it wasn't clear whether the CBS crew would show up or not.

For Crabtree, the media saturation has been a business blessing – and a headache. On Thursday, Crabtree turned off his cell phone because it was constantly ringing with out-of-state numbers. By Friday, Crabtree was losing his voice from doing so many out-of-state interviews.

"I got swamped," Crabtree said. "It's amazing how far this thing has gone, just for a little coffee shop."

Of course, it's not the coffee generating all the buzz; it's the topless waitresses and waiters serving customers in a small, rural Maine town.

Blethen Maine Newspapers published a story about the shop Wednesday, and then The Associated Press picked up the story. Web site The Huffington Post picked up on the news, and other national media outlets followed suit, such as CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Yahoo! and the E! Television Network.

Calls poured in from radio stations in Chicago, Arizona and Florida, Crabtree said. By Friday, media interview requests were coming from places such as Knoxville, Tenn.; Bogota, Colombia; and a German TV station.

And with the avalanche of media attention has come a surge in customers. When the topless coffee shop opened Friday morning at 6, Crabtree said, it was full immediately, and a line formed out the door.

There are 15 tables, with room for 58 people.

Crabtree said he had purchased a coffee supply that he thought would last two weeks, but the shop used it all by Thursday.

"And we got our doughnut lady coming in every morning with everything she's got," he said.

By SCOTT MONROE, Morning Sentinel February 28, 2009


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Regions: Belgrade, Mid Coast


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