Fire marshal investigators are digging through a former topless coffee shop in Maine as they try to determine what caused a blaze that gutted the building. Wednesday afternoon investigators told media that the fire was intentional and that the shop and surrounding area is a crime scene.
The fire was reported at about 1 a.m. Wednesday at the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro, just north of Augusta.
Owner Donald Crabtree lived in the former motel, and he and six others including his daughters and their babies escaped unharmed.
The shop opened to national headlines in February, but it raised the ire of many local residents.
The fire happened hours after Crabtree met with planning officials to discuss his proposal to expand the business to make it more like a strip club. Crabtree says he spent $277,000 buying and renovating the building. It wasn't insured.
Investigators from the fire marshal's office are encouraging anyone with any information to call 1888-870-6162.
Comments
How soon Maine people forgot in 2004 a barroom in downtown Skowhagen was in the news because the city of sin had a nightclub where workers and patrons were taking off their bras, down to their underwear.
Skowhegan in Somerset County; Barroom heaven,a motorcycle gang shop,two Hemp shops, tattoo shops,a nail shop,an adult bookstore,a store that displays a multisyllabic swear in the store window.
Who knows, perhaps the State will allow the topless coffee shop to accept EBT cards!
Relocate in Somerset County and no where else. The topless coffee shop will live happily ever after, never to be heard from again in the news.
I hope justice finds who did this.
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