Battle brewing over bikini barisita stands hits boiling point in Edmonds



EDMONDS, Wash. -- The Edmonds City Council has moved one step closer toward an ordinance change that could make it harder for bikini barista stands to operate.

The amended city code proposal outlines public indecency, but the owner of the sole bikini barista stand in Edmonds, Beehive Espresso, says this move could be a slippery slope that could infringe on people’s rights.

With its flashy signs and tinted windows, Beehive Espresso isn’t just known for its coffee.

"They can go with someone traditional or someone in a bikini," said Alan Tagle, Beehive Espresso’s owner.

Tagle says he understands his business isn’t everyone’s cup of joe, but he questions the city of Edmonds’ potential move to add public indecency to the city code.

"If the motive is changing the code to play this gotcha and it gets me or my employees in trouble down the road, I think that’s really not the role of city government about who should succeed and who shouldn’t," said Tagle.

In a meeting Tuesday night, Edmonds City Council agreed to vote on the amended code next week. The new code details what actions are prohibited, defines nudity and includes language about soliciting for an act of public indecency.

Edmonds Assistant Police Chief Jim Lawless says the changes were complaint-driven. He also says the new language will make it easier for the police department to enforce the code.

The council agreed to put the issue on the consent agenda, the final step before making the change in language official.