Just what Portland needed. Another coffee place to order a cup. Or two. The Bikini Coffee Co., which has already established a loyal -- and nearly all-male -- clientele in Salem, has set its sights on Portland. The company, known for its bikini-top-wearing baristas, plans to open an espresso bar at 520 S.W. Fifth Ave. for coffee drinkers looking to order a tall nonfat with extra whip. Co-owner Steven Rotan, who opened his first coffee shop with his brother in January 2007, said the bikini-and-shorts wearing baristas are in keeping with an overall beach theme. The shop will offer coffee by Capitol City Coffee Roasters in Salem, bakery items and sandwiches.... Rotan said that business at his first shop in Salem quadrupled after baristas adopted the bikini-and-shorts ensemble about a year ago.
Hmm..."overall beach theme".... I wonder...what could that POSSIBLY be code for?? Could it be related to "tremendous reporter cleavage"? Yeah, well; it's summer...and clearly, this reporter's thoughts are turning to cleavage. Jeebus, you'd think it's been awhile...and yes...yes, it has been, sadly.
In day and age where workplaces are rife with sensitivity and diversity training, and where "sexual harrassment" is treated with the zero tolerance it deserves, there are apparently still islands of knuckle-dragging sexual stereotyping that would make most NASCAR fans proud. Not that there is anything wrong with attractive women in simpy bikinis, mind you...but let's face reality here, shall we? Are you buying coffee from the barista...or from the breasts?? Oh, but let's not minimize the women's role, 'kay? These aren't just baristas...they're models! Right, and the owners just wanted to save money on uniforms....
The baristas, who are hired under modeling contracts, can't have just good looks, he said. "The girls have to have some sort of personality. . . . Personality is a huge part."
And did we mention the breasts??
