Bikini baristas are now on one county councilman’s radar

EVERETT — Drive-through espresso huts featuring nearly nude baristas should be treated more like strip clubs than coffee stands — at least that’s how Snohomish County Council Chairman Mike Cooper sees it.

Cooper wants to close what he considers a loophole in county code that allows the risque stands to operate in the open.

“I’m going to stop talking about bikini huts and start talking about nearly naked,” Cooper said last week. “Our code allows them to wear bikinis. There are some people who think we ought to do something about bikinis. We can’t.”

Currently, a business in Snohomish County is considered adults-only if 25 percent or more of its business comes from adult entertainment or products. In theory, that wouldn’t apply to coffee stands, even if patrons are attracted for other reasons.

Cooper equated that with an “unenforced R-rating.”

“I would say they’re marketing other things besides coffee, so we’ll take out the 25 percent loophole,” he said.

His regulatory plan would allow the county to restrict visibility from the street and sales to minors. It would include a transition phase, since many of the controversial coffee huts sit outside the designated industrial areas zoned for adult entertainment. Adult zoning would only apply to new businesses, while interim zoning would apply to existing businesses outside those areas.

Everett leaders, faced with the same issue within the city, have looked at regulating the stands by sharpening the city’s lewd conduct laws.

Everett City Council members on Wednesday unanimously passed an ordinance making it more difficult for bikini-hut baristas or other employees at drive-up windows to bare too much skin.

The updated ordinance defines the stands as public places where lewd conduct, including women baring their breasts, shouldn’t take place.

The law change came shortly after baristas working at an Everett Grab-n-Go espresso stand on Broadway were charged for violating the city’s laws against prostitution, which include displaying parts of the body normally covered by underwear, in exchange for money.

County councilmen also are working on sharpening the county’s lewd conduct rules.

But Cooper said targeting the issue through law enforcement has limitations. Police generally have to catch people in an illegal act, he said. That stops individual employees, but not the business that condones the behavior, he said.

If the proposal passes, the new licensing rules would fall under the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office, which regulates adult businesses such as strip clubs and adult book stores.

“With the budget cuts that we’ve had, I honestly don’t know if it would be at the top of our list,” Auditor Carolyn Weikel said. “I don’t know where it’s going to fit it into our workload.”

Last year, her staff included three inspectors, but that has been narrowed to just one employee who works with an array of pet businesses, pawn shops, bathhouses, dance studios and adult businesses.

Cooper didn’t think there would be much extra work; he knows of 20 or so bikini coffee stands, but estimated only about 10 are a problem.

An official draft of the proposal should be ready by this week, Cooper said. It is likely to be December or later before the County Council can act on it because work on the county budget is expected to last through late November.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.