News & Media

Racy Coffee Shop Perks Up Pasadena

Java Divas hot coffee business booming

By AMBROSE VURNIS

One day, they may be dressed like a naughty nurse. The next day, they could be dressed in Daisy Dukes. It's different racy outfits for different themes each day at a new place of business in Pasadena, Md.

Now before you jump to any conclusions, this place also serves coffee and baked goods.

Drive-thru coffee shops where the employees wear revealing outfits are popular in many parts of the country, except on the East Coast. But Brandy McMillion opened such a place, called Java Divas, six weeks ago on Ritchie Highway.

"My husband and I saw this on the Travel Network about a year and a half ago," she said. "It looked cute and fun. Unfortunately, he lost his job and we thought maybe we should go for it."

Today was Cowgirl Day at the shop. There is also a Bikini Day, School-Girl Day and Fantasy Day, just to name a few.

Even though 75 percent of their customers are men, McMillion said women who have stopped by like what they've seen.

"One of our first customers was a female and she was shocked and asked what was with the outfits," she said. "We told her we are a costume coffee shop, and she said she liked the idea. Go for it."

The risque theme doesn't stop with the outfits. There are no ventis here. Drinks are available in B, C, and D-Cup sizes.

McMillion is a mother of two and a trauma nurse in Baltimore. She and her staff of four serve coffee to the masses from a small, fixed-up trailer located in a gas station parking lot. Business has been good.

"Every day, we see more and more business," she said. "We have more and more customers each day. This area needed some coffee. A drive-thru is perfect for this area and business is picking up nicely."

So nicely, there has been talk of expansion already. Owners of car lots and gas stations are offering space to McMillion on their property. It might be a financial boon for them. The owner of the gas station next to Java Divas has seen his sales rise 15 percent since the shop opened.

Coffee with a dash of spice

Pasadena shop hopes that sex appeal sells java

James Sklar and Jason Parsons needed some mid-afternoon coffee to perk them up for the rest of the day.

They got an eye opener, alright.

While filling up at the Maci Service Station in Pasadena, they walked over to Java Divas and found a naughty nurse, a sexy Santa and a luscious lady in leather.

Megan Rippey, decked out in a short black tutu, thigh-high leather boots, black fishnet stockings and a black bustier, took their order. She turned around to make their drinks, and, well, bottoms up.

"Whoever thought of this idea gets an A-plus in my book," said Sklar, a Marley resident.

It was Fantasy Day at Java Divas, a new drive-through coffee shop where the employees wear skimpy outfits based on a different theme each day.

"It's a way to express playfulness in a safe place and use creativity," said Rippey, a barista by day and actress by night. "If I really want to be a dominatrix, I can express that."

The shop sits at the corner of Ritchie Highway and Pasadena Road, on a grassy corner of the service station parking lot. On opening day last month, owner Brandy McMillion and her four employees stood outside modeling some of their outfits - cowgirl, bikini, school girl and a low-cut baseball jersey.

"We definitely stopped traffic," said McMillion, a Severna Park resident.

"We've shocked a few people who have come to the window. We've had some wives bring their husbands as treats."

The sex sells philosophy doesn't stop at the outfits. Drinks are available in B, C and D-cup sizes and come with a kiss - a red lips sticker - over the top so they don't spill. They have interchangeable signs for their tip jars with messages like "tipping is sexy," and "don't make me hurt you, show gratitude to your mistress."

Davindra Lewis of Finksburg found Java Divas while getting gas one day. He didn't expect to look into the shop and see a girl wearing a firefighter suit.

"I thought it was pretty cute," he said. "The guys at work didn't believe me."

After gettng his drink, he asked McMillion, Rippey and Lauren Lucabaugh to stand together so he could take a picture with his cell phone, almost giddy about showing it to his friends.

Costumed coffee shop girls is not a new concept, but hasn't taken off on the East Coast as it has in other parts of the country.

McMillion, a Registered nurse , and her husband, Bill, saw a TV show about a similar business and thought it was an interesting idea. After Bill lost his job as a pharmaceutical sales representative a year ago, he started doing research to turn that idea into reality.

"You have all these cookie cutter coffee shops out there, they're all chains, they're all the same," Bill said. "My wife looked at is as an opportunity to do something fun, exciting, maybe a little edgy, but all remaining in good taste."

After the couple did some online research, the couple soon had an espresso machine and a small trailer. Bill helped fix up the trailer, installing new flooring and two 4x4 windows.

They're buying coffee from Caffee Pronto, a roaster in Annapolis. Owner Vince Iatesta said Java Divas may be one-of-a-kind in this area, but costume-themed coffee shops are growing.

"I know they've become very successful and popular in the Pacific Northwest, so it was only a matter of time until they made it out East," he said. "I wish them the best of luck."

Del. Nic Kipke, a conservative Republican who represents the area where the business is located, doesn't see a problem with the outfits, unless they really push the envelope.

"If it's comparable to a restaurant like Hooters, it's up to someone's personal discretion whether or not someone wants to spend their money there," said Kipke, who hasn't been to the shop.

Aside from the outfits and coffee, Java Divas offers a variety of hot and cold drinks, including espresso drinks, tea, hot chocolate and additive free smoothies. It also offers cinnamon buns, biscotti, Danishes, doughnuts, cookies and muffins.

Brandy said even though men are 75 percent of the customer base, mothers on the run with kids in the car have stopped by, too.

"They're all nice and respectful," said Lucabaugh, a barista from Pasadena.

Even Munawar Abbasi, owner of Maci's Service Station, has found some unexpected benefits. He said his gas sales are up about 15 percent since Java Divas opened.

"A lot of people were complaining to me that we need coffee," he said. "The first time (I saw the outfits) I was surprised, but it's a good idea."

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mshapiro@mdgazette.com