Fire Officials: Arson Destroyed Controversial Topless Coffee Shop in Maine
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
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MyFOXBoston.com
Jokes about cup size came grinding to a halt Wednesday after a fire destroyed a controversial topless cafe in a residential neighborhood in Maine, and fire investigators believe it was intentionally set.
The blaze was reported about 1 a.m. at the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, just north of Augusta, where shirtless waitresses served Java to ogling patrons — angering locals and drawing national attention since the venue opened in February.
The state fire marshal's office made the arson determination Wednesday afternoon after investigators sifted through the rubble of the shop. Officials aren't saying how or where the fire started.
The fire was reported just before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Owner Donald Crabtree and six others in the building escaped unharmed. Crabtree said he lost his home and business in the fire, and that he had no insurance.
The shop featured topless waitresses and waiters serving coffee and doughnuts.
The fire happened only hours after Crabtree met with town planners to discuss making it more like a strip club, with longer hours and dancing.
The shop raised the ire of dozens of residents when it initially went before the town planning board.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524919,00.html
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Print ShareThis
MyFOXBoston.com
Jokes about cup size came grinding to a halt Wednesday after a fire destroyed a controversial topless cafe in a residential neighborhood in Maine, and fire investigators believe it was intentionally set.
The blaze was reported about 1 a.m. at the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, just north of Augusta, where shirtless waitresses served Java to ogling patrons — angering locals and drawing national attention since the venue opened in February.
The state fire marshal's office made the arson determination Wednesday afternoon after investigators sifted through the rubble of the shop. Officials aren't saying how or where the fire started.
The fire was reported just before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Owner Donald Crabtree and six others in the building escaped unharmed. Crabtree said he lost his home and business in the fire, and that he had no insurance.
The shop featured topless waitresses and waiters serving coffee and doughnuts.
The fire happened only hours after Crabtree met with town planners to discuss making it more like a strip club, with longer hours and dancing.
The shop raised the ire of dozens of residents when it initially went before the town planning board.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524919,00.html