Bikini Barista Stand Strikes Deal With Bellevue

A bikini barista stand on the Eastside struck a deal with the City of Bellevue Tuesday after they were ordered to close its drive-through window.

Following a Bellevue City Council meeting Monday about the stand, a code enforcement officer from the city of Bellevue delivered a notice to the Knotty Bodies Espresso stand to close its drive-through window because it violates city code.

Despite the order, the owner’s attorney said the drive-through can remain open. Vehicles were still driving up to the window until about 5 p.m. when the city placed cones to block vehicles from pulling up to the window.

The owner agreed to close the drive-through portion, but walk-up customers are still allowed.

SURVEY: Should Knotty Bodies Be Shut Down? Should Knotty Bodies -- the controversial new bikini barista stand in Bellevue -- be forced to close? Yes, it violates city law and offends neighbors. No, there's nothing offensive about it. Not sure.

“The concern is a public safety concern because its causing traffic to back up into the street it's putting pedestrians and other drivers at risk and that is the city's biggest concern,” said Mike Brennan of the City of Bellevue.

The city is focused on the fact that the stand is a drive-through, but residents are concerned with what the baristas are not wearing.

“There is nothing in the correction notices, nothing in the notice of civil violation that has anything to do with how the employees are dressed,” Brennan said.

The city did do something to mitigate the visibility of the espresso stand. It planted trees along the back of the stand, shielding the building from a city park.

Residents at the City Council meeting Monday night said they want the city to regulate coffee stands like this as adult entertainment.

In addition, the city's Deputy Mayor suggested shaming customers who buy coffee at the stand by taking photos of customers and posting them online.

Another issue that arose during Monday night's City Council meeting, where angry residents protested the bikini barista stand, was the fact that the owner does not have a business license on file with the city.

The stand opened on Saturday, right next to Crossroads Park, which is a popular place for families.

Bikini barista Lisa Caughron said there are just as many people who support the coffee stand as those who oppose it.

Caughron said the controversy has doubled or tripled their business since it opened.