After surviving an arson attack that saw the original store burn to the ground and two years of heated outrage from locals, the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, Maine will soon close down. Local officials ruled that the owner, Donald Crabtree, has been putting signs illegally that violate local zoning laws.
Crabtree nows says he plans to close up shop after his current inventory runs out. One of his signs said, "Boobies Wanted" and prompted a wave of opposition from local residents. The original store burned down in June 2009 when a man set fire to the building. He was in a relationship with one of the waitresses.
'I wanted to have some fun; I wanted to see people smile. I started the topless coffee shop to do that, and it did. But now my smile's gone," Crabtree told the Maine Morning Sentinel.
In this short video, the filmaker introduces us to some of the women who worked at the coffee shop and examines their reasons for doing so. (Note: NSFW, brief pictures of topless women)
http://vimeo.com/5238699
Photo by: screenshot
