21st Century Viking: Espresso hut a little too Knotty?

Later this month, another espresso hut will open on the corner of 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 58th Street. The only difference is that Knotty Bodies Espresso is one of those espresso huts where the baristas are scantily clad.

While I normally don't have a problem with these types of establishments, I have one with this particular espresso hut's location: across from a church and a school.

What has not been said in all the discussion about the upcoming grand opening of Knotty Bodies Espresso is that it is diagonally across the street from St. Alphonsus Church and directly across from St. Alphonsus School. No matter how I look at this, I just find it wrong.

Where was the zoning board when the owners of this establishment decided to open this place? Did anyone in any position of power think that opening a sex-themed business directly across the street from a church and a school was a bad idea?

I like to think that I am a tolerant person. Usually, I believe if a person wants to do something they should have the right to engage in that activity as long as they are not hurting anyone else. At the same time, however, I also believe in being a good neighbor.

I am sure there will be a lot of people who will say that this espresso hut isn't hurting anyone, but opening such a business directly across from a house of worship and an elementary school reveals a distinct lack of respect for the other people in the neighborhood.

Putting an espresso hut where young women are wearing revealing clothing, however "tastefully done," is a deliberate provocation and will certainly upset many of the parishioners and the parents of the children who attend the school.

The owners of Knotty Bodies probably chose their new location next to the 76 gas station because it's a good place for a drive-thru espresso hut, but do they care if it bothers anyone? It sure seems like they don't. If they don't care at all about how their business will affect the other people in the neighborhood, why would we want them in Ballard?

Some might say this is a textbook case of "if you get offended, it's your problem." But if this is not in poor taste, I don’t know what is. I can’t be the only one who is bothered by the current location of this espresso stand, but what can be done about it?

I can vote with my ballot or my wallet, and their business plan doesn't make me want to support Knotty Bodies Espresso. If you don’t want a business like this in Ballard, make your feelings known by buying your espresso elsewhere.

Do you have a column suggestion or a comment for Brian LeBlanc? Leave a comment on this story or reach him directly at brianleblanc76@yahoo.com.