Barista Boyz off Broadway — which replaced the old Buzz Stop back in January at 1122 E. Madison — had their grand opening on Saturday. I took a stroll down the hill to pay a visit after my partner called and said, “You have to get down here, the Boyz are shirtless!”
Barista Boyz of Broadway, 1122 E Madison St
Following the trend to feature bikini clad baristas to attract business in other parts of the state, owner Dave Ray thought topless guys would do well on Capitol Hill. It seems his theory may be proving true, “today is the busiest day I’ve had so far, and it is only half over,” Ray said with a big smile.
They were playing dance music and offering free samples and coupons for their kosher hot dogs to people passing by.
“It’s funny,” Ray said, “the women are doing a double take. One woman turned bright red as she pointed at one of the Boyz. She clearly wanted to stop by, but her boyfriend was not so interested,” he laughed.
Barista Boyz is adjacent to the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences. Ray said he had a meeting with the principal prior to opening to share his business plan. He assured the principal that shirts would stay on until 3:30 PM well after school was over. According to Ray, the principal was happy with that arrangement.
Coffee Cop froths some foam
One of the shirtless Boyz made my coffee. He was wearing hand-cuffs in his belt loop and aviator sunglasses. I asked him what his stage name was. “That’s a great question,” he pondered, “I don’t have one yet. What do you think it should be?”
“How about Coffee Cop?” I suggested.
“Great! I’ll go with that!” Coffee Cop said, while frothing milk for my latte.
Meanwhile, Ray was talking to a guy with curly brown hair straddling a 10 speed bike. He was interested in a job, “We’ll be hiring more Boyz soon. You should stop by in a couple of weeks,” Ray said.
If you missed Saturday’s Grand Opening, don’t worry. Dave plans to keep the festivities going for the next several weekends. They are open M-F from 6:00 AM -6:00 PM and they are open from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
This is so stupid! If you have to go the sex route you need to just close shop. If your product can’t stand on its own with some stupid gimmick then you obviously do not know coffee.
It is not like you have to lick the coffee off a bare chest – rather brave – boiling coffee is VERY hot ….
Gimmicks have always been used to market products, what if it is the BEST coffee in the city? Will you bend?
Res ipsa loquitor
I’ve been enjoying B-Boyz coffee for months, I live on the south end of the hill and am so glad to see the gays are migrating my way now that Broadway is in torn up with lightrail construction. Someone please fix their signage/logo.
Isn’t it still pretty chilly in Seattle? Well, maybe not in that coffee shop!
That guy looks like he would blow away in a strong wind.
You seem somehow personally injured by this. have a nice sob and find something else to be angry about.
Flexible – this type bends well…. in the wind.
Just confirmed rumors – the coffee beans are picked by the best workers that can be found – and they pick the beans in the nude, YES, strip naked.
Even better – at union scale for their region.
Thus, magic beans, and magic coffee … I am looking for the video.
Myky
How do I apply?
I was just on a road trip back to Seattle from Kitsap Penninsula yesterday and it seemed like every coffee shack I passsed was go go strippers, and being a straight girl I just didn’t want to go there. I was just thinking that guys would be much more comfortable for me. Actually I don’t even want them to be shirtless. I guess I just don’t want to get coffee from girls in their underwear …. :P
Get over yourself, Greg. It’s just coffee.
I stopped in this weekend during their 1/2-off clothing event. I was nonplussed by the fleshiness but wowed by my tasty americano. I will definitely be checking in with them again.
Let me guess…since you can’t take your shirt off to give out free money, somebody with a tight body titillating others into buying coffee pisses you off, eh? Yeah, I figured…get in shape or quitcherbitchin.
Just to close to the school.
not a great move? what are they selling?
Is the Coffee good or the body? Not Good for the Location!
I was wondering where you guys moved to since you left the buzz stop. Please email me back as soon as possible.