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| Café Aroma reopens Photo by Oliver Moffatt |
Long-time Ridgecrest Café Aroma is open for business again as of Friday after temporarily being shut down by the city of Shoreline over accusations of operating without proper business licenses.
A cease and desist order posted on the door of the cafe last week said the business did not have a license for the operation of an Adult Cabaret. Rumors spread in comments on social media speculated the cafe was hosting after hour bondage workshops. A story on King-5 reported the city’s primary concern was that the cafe did not have the proper licenses for the events.
An online fundraiser to help the owners cover expenses from the shutdown said the cafe “created employment opportunities for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and facilitated space for diverse community events - including kink, live music, art and discussion groups.”
Although ownership of the coffee shop has changed hands over the years, Café Aroma (located in the Ridgecrest neighborhood at the corner of NE 165th St and 5th Ave NE) has been in operation since 1992, three years before the city of Shoreline was founded.
I'm glad that they reopened and will continue to patronize them. The owners are a great asset and I fully embrace their support of the LGBTQIA+ communities and their events.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that they survived the heavy handed actions by the city. We've certainly continue our patronage and fully support them.
ReplyDeleteAny idea what business(es) they have been specifically licensed for?
ReplyDeleteCommunity standards are important, too.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen much business going on there since re-opening. Tough to recover from that kind of backlash.
ReplyDeleteIt is a well-deserved backlash due to the owner's sketchy event and then gaslighting the community that it didn't happen. We all saw the invites mentioning bodily fluids and sex.
ReplyDeleteSex was allowed, but almost no one did anything sexual at the events. It was mainly hitting people with paddles and tying up with rope, and hanging out.
DeleteOh that totally clears things up and makes me comfortable brining my kids to the play room where it was just a little sex and a lot of paddling. Give me a break! New owners please!
DeleteWill the hot fudge be available as a special again?
ReplyDelete