Bright spark Donald Crabtree has hired waiters and waitresses to serve their customers naked from the waist up.

And so far his saucy venture in Vassalboro – population 4,500 – in Maine, in the US, has been a roaring success.

While other firms have been struggling in the downturn, business has been booming at the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop.

The owner's brother Paul said: "It's just been crowds mobbing in."

At first Donald faced a battle to get the go-ahead for his plan – because some local residents were angry over the idea.

But the entrepreneur won the right to go ahead with his recipe for success in a planning board meeting last week.

"I know what people want," he said. "People like nudity, and coffee is profitable.

"Sure, I'd start a coffee shop, but I'd be out of work in a week."

Donald was swamped with 150 applications for 15 jobs on offer at the cafe.

"We didn't hire '10s'," he said, referring to his staff's appearance. "We hired everyone from skinny to big-boned women."
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Labels: Drink, Industry, Odds and Ends