Extra ‘Hotties’ coffee... seven bikini baristas sue city

SEVEN “bikini baristas” and the owner of a chain of coffee stands called Hillbilly Hotties are suing a US city, saying laws banning bare skin violate their right to free expression.

The suit, filed in Seattle, says the ordinances passed by the Everett city council in Washington state deny bikini-stand employees the ability to communicate through their attire, are vague and confusing, and unlawfully target women. The lawsuit claims: “Just like Starbucks with green aprons, UPS with brown trucks and outfits, and Hooters with orange shorts, the baristas’ attire evokes a message at work.”

One of Everett’s new laws requires the workers to wear a minimum of tank tops and shorts and specifically applies to employees at “quick service” restaurants. The city cited “a proliferation of crimes of a sexual nature occurring at bikini barista stands throughout the city”.

“Employees and owners of barista stands where this conduct occurs are making large sums of money from overtly sexual, lewd conduct, and prostitution,” the city said in one of the measures. Everett and Snohomish county, north of Seattle, have had a troubled history with some coffee stands operating as drive-through strip clubs or even brothels.

But Jovanna Edge, who runs five Hillbilly Hotties stands, said the city’s new laws are unnecessary. She said: “I don’t want to hide anything from them. Everybody needs to follow the rules, to not step out of the box and take their clothes off for people. That’s a way to keep them honest.”