Coffee Franchise Guide

A story appearing in the The Yakima Herald reports that the latest skirmish in the sexpresso coffee wars has erupted in Yakima, WA. Brewlesque drive-thru coffee is the newest addition to the growing trend of coffee kiosks featuring scantily clad baristas providing a titillating shot of flirtation with the morning brew. And both competitors and some local residents are plenty steamed.

According to the Herald:

“Brewlesque, a drive-thru espresso stand located next to Mel’s Diner on North First Street, is Yakima’s first foray into the bikini bar craze that is sweeping the Northwest.

“But, there’s a twist.

“Instead of skimpy bikinis, the baristas ply their trade in bawdy bustiers and corsets reminiscent of burlesque.

“Owner Vicki Gibson said the stand, which opened last month, is doing so well that she’s on the verge of opening a second one later this month, on Rudkin Road in Union Gap.

“We’re not just getting people in there to look at the girls,” she said. “They’re also getting great coffee while they’re there.”

Where’d the Burlesque idea come from?

Gibson said she got the idea a couple years ago while visiting her daughter, who lives in Hollywood and has some dancer friends who work at a retro burlesque review.

A former real estate agent, Gibson also owned and operated a coffee shop called Cuppa Giddyup in the late 1990s.

Gibson said she finds the burlesque twist “classier” than bikinis and that she has no trouble finding and keeping baristas. She has five employees at her current site and is not worried about finding five more for the planned site on Rudkin Road.

Opposition - Surprise, Surprise - Abounds

From the Herald Article: “Amy Lighthall, owner of Got Coffee? on Summitview Avenue, makes her feelings known on a reader sign facing the street just west of 32nd Avenue. It reads, “No lingerie, just great coffee.”

“The way Lighthall sees it, Brewlesque is not a good fit with the pace of life in Yakima

“‘I don’t want coffee served from a girl in her panties,’ she said. ‘Plenty of people do, I guess. To each their own.’”

Sexpresso Trend Continues

The “sexpresso” shop has been gathering steam in the Northwest, with such concepts as Cowgirl Espresso, Bikini Coffee Company, and Java Jigglers.

The continued growth of the sexpresso fad comes on the heels of Starbucks announcement that it will be closing 600 stores nationwide, including 19 stores in Washington.

Relentless marketer Sean Kelly is a 20 year veteran of the franchise industry, and founder of the award-winning marketing firm IdeaFarm.

In 2006, he founded the FranBest franchise network, best franchise opportunities, the top new franchises, franchise marketing, franchise public relations and small business marketing.

Contact him at seankelly[at]ideafarm.net.