Officials revoke licence from ‘bikini barista’ coffee shop

A “bikini barista” coffee shop has had its licence pulled after authorities determined it was operating more like an adult business than a cafe.

An unconventional coffee shop in California is finding itself at the centre of controversy — yet again — as a result of its servers’ skimpy styles.

At a meeting on Tuesday, city council members in American Canyon voted unanimously to revoke a licence granted to Bottoms Up Espresso after critics argued the “bikini barista” coffee shop was operating more like an adult business than a cafe.

The coffee shop, which has multiple locations in the Bay Area, originally secured its American Canyon location in December, SF Gate reported.

City officials claim they received complaints about the servers’ outfits following the store’s opening, prompting a community director to speak with the owner.

“I met with one of the owners on January 4, 2019 who informed me that he intends to require the employees at the American Canyon store to wear costumes that are as revealing as the costumes worn on staff at other Bottoms Up Espresso stores,” community director Brent Cooper had previously said, according to the Vallejo Times-Herald.

“The business owner provided a ‘dress code.’ The costumes in the ‘dress code’ are revealing to a degree that the business meets the definition of an adult business per the city’s Municipal Code.”

According to the SF Gate, the city’s municipal code also requires workers to cover specific “anatomical areas” of the body, including the buttocks, the pubic area and the breasts below the areola. Otherwise, it may be classified as an adult-entertainment establishment.

The owner of Bottoms Up, Nate Wilson, told Fox News he felt the “city has gone beyond the law” with its ruling but will “move on from that location” regardless.

“We have decided to move on from that location due to the fact the city will waste a bunch of taxpayers’ money to fight us in court, where if we wanted to make a point would win,” he said.

“We do not fall into ‘adult entertainment’ as they suggest. The licence was revoked before we even opened or went to any appeals. The city is acting beyond their powers and shows you how even small government abuses their powers.”

Bottoms Up had come under scrutiny before opening its Chico location — specifically, its proximity to a dance school.

At the time, Mr Wilson argued the baristas weren’t wearing anything Californians wouldn’t see on a beach.

“We are a very classy business and pride ourselves on customer service and quality drinks. We have dress codes that expose less than you would see at a pool or beach,” he said.

Chico Mayor Sean Morgan had also called Bottoms Up’s Chico location “unfortunate” but said the business was not violating city code.

Mr Wilson co-founded the first Bottoms Up Espresso location in Modesto, California in 2011. He confirmed to Fox News there were at least a dozen other locations under development in the Sacramento area, along with more in Arizona.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission