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Arsonist Strikes Topless Maine Coffee Shop

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2009 4:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – The fire that destroyed a controversial topless coffee shop in Maine late last night was arson, the Kennebec Journal reports. The police are seeking witnesses “who might have seen vehicles parked in that general area around 1am Wednesday morning or anyone walking along the roadway.” Seven people escaped the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro as it burned, and no one was hurt.

The community is deeply divided about the establishment, the AP reports. “I don’t think the business was doing any harm,” said one local. A waitress concurred. “We should keep on going, get back up and make it an even bigger place.” Not all agree: One man said 97% of locals oppose the shop. “I’m a Christian and I don’t want this trash in my backyard,” said another woman. “No good can come from it.”

Donald Crabtree, owner of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop, right, joined by his brother Paul Crabtree, center, and Krista MacIntyre, left, a waitress at the coffee shop.
Donald Crabtree, owner of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop, right, joined by his brother Paul Crabtree, center, and Krista MacIntyre, left, a waitress at the coffee shop.   (AP Photo)
A nude woman with coffee.
A nude woman with coffee.   (Shutter Stock)
The ruins of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, Maine.
The ruins of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, Maine.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Observer
Jun 4, 2009 12:51 PM CDT
I love the idea of topless coffee shops. And topless grocery stores and topless dentist offices and topless shoe stores and topless hardware stores and topless churches and topless chinese restaurants and topless Wal-Marts and topless airlines and topless banks and topless gyms and topless Ikea's -- you get the picture.
denaliguide
Jun 4, 2009 5:26 AM CDT
I think whenever Jesus decides to do an earthwalk again, He will have plenty to be angry about, and part of that will be the damage so many of the misguided who pretend to act in HIS Name have done, and many, many enablers of violence and hatred in His Name will be accountalbe. I think for right now, it is sufficient to render unto the secular world [Caesar's of this time] what they hold sway over, and render correct behaviour unto God. This is NOT the Old Testament, that was rendered inoperative by Christ, so they cant fall back on the old "Eye for an Eye" principles, they have to move forward. DG
denaliguide
Jun 4, 2009 5:19 AM CDT
As a Christian, I am embarassed by Christians judging others. Like it or now, if you dont want to be part of it, stay away. If the quoted supposed Christian didnt want trash on property he owned, he is free to clean it up. If its someone else's property, well then leave it alone and dont patronize it.

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