Angel Montero dreamed of owning a coffee shop with whispering patrons, dim lights and relaxing background music.
But she never expected it would take a drive-through window, and perhaps more importantly, the exposed mid-riffs and sun-tanned curves of her bikini-clad employees to help her business boom after only a month.
When Montero heard of a similar bikini drive-thru in Seattle, she decided it was a great twist to add to her coffee shop. The Bare Bean drive-thru, located in the shopping center at the intersection of Perkins Road and Acadian Thruway, opened on Dec. 3 and offers Louisiana's first bikini baristas.
The baristas' uniforms consist of a black Victoria's Secret bikini top and a pair of black Aerie bottoms of the girls' choosing.
The drive-thru is seeking to hire "attractive all-American girls for barista positions," according to the Bare Bean Web site.
"Once we put the ad in the paper, the phones were ringing off the hook," Montero said.
However, intriguing as the uniform of this coffee shop may be, Montero said the skimpy outfits aren't what she would like the main attraction to be.
Mass communication freshman Jewel Borel said she first heard of the Bare Bean when her friend was hired. Borel said the pay is competitive, and while some people will have a problem with the shop's theme, she feels completely comfortable in her uniform.
"I feel fortunate enough to be comfortable in my body, and I don't portray the bikini in a negative way," Borel said
While the bikini is a gimmick, Borel said the main focus of the business is its commitment to earth-friendly products and personable, friendly employees.
"To be honest, you are going to make more tips, but you have to not sell the bikini, you have to sell your coffee and your personality," she said.
"We just want to put out a good product," she said. "We've gotten really great feedback on the coffee."
The Bare Bean's green exterior is designed to reflect the overall earth-friendly theme of the shop. The shop promises all natural, organic coffee and tea products made to order; however, this earthy friendly dedication doesn't just stop at the products.
The Bean's cups and straws are made of corn and the shop's used coffee grinds and filters are composted. The girls' uniforms are set to change to the color green in spring to further emphasize the theme.
Montero said she already had five Louisiana companies approach her interested in franchising the unique shop.
"We really want to keep it young and fun," she said. "That's one of the reasons we would like to keep it in college towns and beach destinations."
While the first of its kind in Louisiana, The Bare Bean is not the first college town business to couple their product with sex appeal.
Lance Porter, who teaches advertising creative strategy and campaigns in the Manship School of Mass Communication, said sex has always been used in business as a means to capture people's attention, and this kind of advertising will continue to be popular.
"It's harder to sell things nowadays," Porter said. "It all goes back to who can be the most provocative."
Happy's Irish Pub in downtown Baton Rouge is known for waitresses who wear an untraditional version of a catholic schoolgirl uniform. The bartenders' attire consists of a short, pleated plaid skirt and a small, white top knotted to expose midriffs.
"I definitely feel comfortable in my uniform," said Jolie Drouant, a recent University graduate who currently works at Happy's. "I think it's fun. It's like Halloween. Every time I come to work, I get to dress up."
Drouant said she doesn't think the revealing nature of the uniforms reflect negatively on the women employees. She said she wouldn't have applied for the position if she thought it would make her uncomfortable.
Mila Robichaux, Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar waitress and business sophomore, said she also doesn't view establishments that choose to emphasize sex appeal through uniforms in a negative light.
"I feel like it's no problem. I think it's your decision if you choose to work there, and if you think highly of yourself, that's all that matters," Robichaux said.
The Walk-On's waitress uniform consists of a black top, and the girls are free to choose the type of black bottoms they wear.
Caroline Howell, Walk On's waitress and pscyhology sophomore, said waitresses decide to wear either tight shorts or longer ones. However, she said, most waitresses do choose more revealing shorts.
According to Walk-On's waitress and biology sophomore Nina LeBlanc, uniforms that emphasize sex appeal by exposing more skin help earn higher tips than other restaurants.
"I feel like I make more money because of it," LeBlanc said. "It's a lot of factors really, but it definitely helps."
But she never expected it would take a drive-through window, and perhaps more importantly, the exposed mid-riffs and sun-tanned curves of her bikini-clad employees to help her business boom after only a month.
When Montero heard of a similar bikini drive-thru in Seattle, she decided it was a great twist to add to her coffee shop. The Bare Bean drive-thru, located in the shopping center at the intersection of Perkins Road and Acadian Thruway, opened on Dec. 3 and offers Louisiana's first bikini baristas.
The baristas' uniforms consist of a black Victoria's Secret bikini top and a pair of black Aerie bottoms of the girls' choosing.
The drive-thru is seeking to hire "attractive all-American girls for barista positions," according to the Bare Bean Web site.
"Once we put the ad in the paper, the phones were ringing off the hook," Montero said.
However, intriguing as the uniform of this coffee shop may be, Montero said the skimpy outfits aren't what she would like the main attraction to be.
Mass communication freshman Jewel Borel said she first heard of the Bare Bean when her friend was hired. Borel said the pay is competitive, and while some people will have a problem with the shop's theme, she feels completely comfortable in her uniform.
"I feel fortunate enough to be comfortable in my body, and I don't portray the bikini in a negative way," Borel said
While the bikini is a gimmick, Borel said the main focus of the business is its commitment to earth-friendly products and personable, friendly employees.
"To be honest, you are going to make more tips, but you have to not sell the bikini, you have to sell your coffee and your personality," she said.
"We just want to put out a good product," she said. "We've gotten really great feedback on the coffee."
The Bare Bean's green exterior is designed to reflect the overall earth-friendly theme of the shop. The shop promises all natural, organic coffee and tea products made to order; however, this earthy friendly dedication doesn't just stop at the products.
The Bean's cups and straws are made of corn and the shop's used coffee grinds and filters are composted. The girls' uniforms are set to change to the color green in spring to further emphasize the theme.
Montero said she already had five Louisiana companies approach her interested in franchising the unique shop.
"We really want to keep it young and fun," she said. "That's one of the reasons we would like to keep it in college towns and beach destinations."
While the first of its kind in Louisiana, The Bare Bean is not the first college town business to couple their product with sex appeal.
Lance Porter, who teaches advertising creative strategy and campaigns in the Manship School of Mass Communication, said sex has always been used in business as a means to capture people's attention, and this kind of advertising will continue to be popular.
"It's harder to sell things nowadays," Porter said. "It all goes back to who can be the most provocative."
Happy's Irish Pub in downtown Baton Rouge is known for waitresses who wear an untraditional version of a catholic schoolgirl uniform. The bartenders' attire consists of a short, pleated plaid skirt and a small, white top knotted to expose midriffs.
"I definitely feel comfortable in my uniform," said Jolie Drouant, a recent University graduate who currently works at Happy's. "I think it's fun. It's like Halloween. Every time I come to work, I get to dress up."
Drouant said she doesn't think the revealing nature of the uniforms reflect negatively on the women employees. She said she wouldn't have applied for the position if she thought it would make her uncomfortable.
Mila Robichaux, Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar waitress and business sophomore, said she also doesn't view establishments that choose to emphasize sex appeal through uniforms in a negative light.
"I feel like it's no problem. I think it's your decision if you choose to work there, and if you think highly of yourself, that's all that matters," Robichaux said.
The Walk-On's waitress uniform consists of a black top, and the girls are free to choose the type of black bottoms they wear.
Caroline Howell, Walk On's waitress and pscyhology sophomore, said waitresses decide to wear either tight shorts or longer ones. However, she said, most waitresses do choose more revealing shorts.
According to Walk-On's waitress and biology sophomore Nina LeBlanc, uniforms that emphasize sex appeal by exposing more skin help earn higher tips than other restaurants.
"I feel like I make more money because of it," LeBlanc said. "It's a lot of factors really, but it definitely helps."
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