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Owner Seeks Permit to Reopen Topless Cafe

November 09, 2009 - VASSALBORO -- The controversial Grand View Topless Coffee Shop could make a comeback – this time, inside an office trailer.

Owner Donald Crabtree will go before the Vassalboro Planning Board at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the town office to ask for a new permit to operate the business out of the trailer, which has already been set up on his property fronting Route 3. The new shop could open next week if a permit is granted, Crabtree said.

"One of the girls said we'll probably be called 'trailer trash,' " Crabtree said. "But I got to do what I got to do. ... It's not top-of-the-line, but we got to start somewhere and we hope to save enough money to get us into a newer building."

Crabtree's original coffee shop building, which was also his home, burned to the ground June 4 during a late-night fire that investigators say was intentionally set. The property was not insured.

Although it's taken a full five months, investigators have made "significant progress" in the case and expect to deliver that information to the district attorney's office within a month, according to Sgt. Ken Grimes of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

That means a suspect or suspects may soon be charged in connection with the arson, he said.

Crabtree opened Grand View on Feb. 23 inside a former motel building, featuring topless waiters and waitresses serving doughnuts and coffee, drawing complaints from some residents and long lines of customers. In response, town voters in June approved an "adult-only businesses ordinance" that regulates where, when and how "sexually oriented businesses" may operate in Vassalboro.

Crabtree was living in adjoining apartments with six others when the fire was set during the early-morning hours of June 4. A passing ambulance crew noticed the smoke and flames and awoke Crabtree and his family.

Crabtree said he worked construction jobs during the summer, sold his remaining possessions, and former employees accepted donations at the site while providing car washes and coffee. Crabtree said they scraped together enough money to purchase the construction site-style trailer, which is 12 feet wide by 60 feet long.

The Fire Marshal's Office says the trailer's customer capacity is 47 people, Crabtree said, and there are 25 seats inside now. The trailer is on a concrete slab, where it's hooked up to sewer, water, electricity and telephone service.

"We remodeled it, put in a handicapped bathroom and ramp, a small kitchen, an office and seating area," Crabtree said. "We fixed it up as best we could because money's really tight."

Crabtree also has had the property up for sale, which he said was an option if he had not been able to reopen his business; he paid $277,000 for the property.

And because the trailer is less than 3,000 square feet in total size, a permit from the Fire Marshal's Office is not required.

He plans to ask the Planning Board for a town permit that allows hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. and gives him one year to remove the debris left from the fire.

Crabtree also said he won't allow arson – or any other kind of criminal activity – to befall his coffee shop again. He plans to spend additional money to have security cameras installed and hire a qualified security guard during business hours.

"There's going to be no tolerance of drugs, prostitution or trouble. A couple of the girls feel unsafe (because of the arson) and I'm going to make sure they feel safe," he said. "If somebody makes a small remark, we're going to take it very seriously. No screwing around. There will be zero tolerance."

Paul Mitnik, the town's code enforcement officer, said he plans to inspect the trailer next week before the Planning Board meeting to see if it meets town safety codes.

Crabtree said he's excited to get back to work.

"I built this place to put smiles on people's faces," Crabtree said.

By SCOTT MONROE, Morning Sentinel November 8, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Belgrade, Mid Coast


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