THE APTLY-NAMED GRAND VIEW TOPLESS COFFEE SHOP in Vassalboro, Maine, burned down this morning. The busty business has been controversial in the tiny town since it opened in February.
The staid citizenry was strongly opposed to nudity in their town claiming that the topless business wouldn’t have an uplifting impact on the community. They did admit, however, that it is normal for coffee shops to price their products according to cup size.
The fire alarm was sent at 1 am Wednesday morning by an ambulance that happened to be driving past and saw the strapping flames. It brought nine other fire departments in to help Vassalboro fight the fire for five hours.
NECN has an early video report from the fireground:
There were rumors that business had been drooping lately, though. The shop’s owner, Donald Crabtree lives in the building and says that it was completely destroyed. He added that he did not have any insurance. Just a few hours earlier Crabtree had applied for a town permit to open a strip club at the same location.
A waitress at the shop, Krista MacIntyre says that they should “get things back up and make it an even bigger place.”
Even though the business is wiped out, the building is still topless.
AP / Joel Page photo
A regular customer was heard muttering, “This really sucks!”
