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Fully Clad Waitresses Will Accept Donations

June 10, 2009 - VASSALBORO — Donald Crabtree pledges to rebuild and reopen after an arsonist destroyed his controversial Grand View Topless Coffee Shop on Route 3.

That's easier said than done.

Crabtree did not have the property insured; he lost his business and home in the fire. He estimates it will cost about $30,000 just to have the charred remains of the coffee shop removed from the site.

"I got about $700 to my name now and I'm chewing that up fast by living in a motel," Crabtree said. "I've never had a bank loan, credit, and I don't plan on having one now."

Under town zoning rules, Crabtree would need to apply for a new permit if he were to put up a temporary trailer in Grand View's parking lot. So, for now, Crabtree said he plans to put up a tent in the parking lot and have his waitresses – with their tops on – giving away coffee and doughnuts inside and accepting donations.

Crabtree said he hoped to have the tent set up by the end of the coming week.

Paul Mitnik, Vassalboro's code-enforcement officer, confirmed that Crabtree would need a new town permit, granted by the Planning Board, if Crabtree were to operate his business out of some other structure, such as a trailer, on the property. The Planning Board would also examine all the standard considerations, such as traffic flow and utilities, he said.

A tent in which coffee and doughnuts are given away for free would not be considered the operation of a business, Crabtree and Mitnik agreed.

Mitnik said he did not know Crabtree did not have the property insured, and that insurance is not required by the town for a permit.

"Usually we're pretty sensitive to fire victims. I really think what happened was terrible," Mitnik said. "Someone in his family could have been killed. Whether you're for or against it, you really shouldn't be doing stuff to destroy his property. I hope they catch whoever did it, too."

The fire was first reported at 12:58 a.m. Wednesday by an ambulance crew from Belfast that was driving down Route 3. The crew awakened Crabtree and his family – twin daughters, their boyfriends and their two 4-month-old babies – and everyone escaped uninjured.

Investigators with the state Fire Marshal's Office ruled later Wednesday that the fire was set intentionally after discovering evidence in the building's rubble.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland declined to say what the evidence was but said it was taken to the state crime lab for analysis.

Crabtree said he is eager to get the tent set up, with portable toilets, a generator, chairs, bottled water, coffee makers and coffee and doughnuts.

"Business will go on as usual," Crabtree said. "The girls are out of work and want to get back to work. There is no law against giving coffee and food away and there is no law saying I can't have a donation jar.

"Everybody wants to get back to work and customers want us to get back now. We're not going to go away with our tail in between our legs."

By SCOTT MONROE, Kennebec Journal June 7, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Belgrade, Mid Coast


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