'Bikini Barista' arrives in Roseburg
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ROSEBURG, Ore. -- They got off to a controversial start in Washington State, but 'Bikini Barista' stands are becoming a trend nationwide.
That trend has now landed in Roseburg.
Bouncin Betty's Coffee Co. on Stephens Street is starting to raise some eyebrows, but owners say business has spiked since starting the concept a couple weeks ago.
Like it or not, it was a hot topic on Wednesday, drawing over 100 comments on the KPIC Facebook page within two hours.
'It's the same coffee, same prices, same owners, I'm just wearing a little bit less clothes," said Vanessa Davis, who is a Barista at the shop.
Zippy Java reopened as Bouncin' Betty's a little over a week ago. It's the only coffee shop of it's kind in Roseburg, and as these 'bikini baristas' brave the cold, they're already taking some heat.
"I find it extremely disgusting, and I'm sure I'm not the only wife and mother that feel this way," said one KPIC viewer via email.
Ramona Saunders, a local resident, agrees. "I mean, it has it's place, but I don't think, not in a coffee shop, she said."
Vanessa says she's received mostly positive feedback. and that female customers are surprisingly more comfortable placing their orders than men.
Owner Charlene McCullough says the response has been mostly positive though, and says her employees are, "cute and classy."
She says the market is saturated with stands, so they needed a niche. "It's really popular up north, and we just figured it would come here eventually one day, and we just decided to be the first, she said."
The owners started with a hunch that bikinis could turn into bucks. They say that profits have nearly doubled already.
KPIC News visited the stand on Wednesday, and there were a steady stream of cars driving through.
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