In an era when drive-thru coffee stands are becoming ubiquitous, popping up in random parking lots and taking the place of former iconic businesses, Sweet Cheeks Espresso, “Central Arkansas’s first drive-thru bikini coffee shop,” opened April 14 in Searcy.
It seems like many of the new coffee stands devise some kind of theme to give themselves an identity and compete with Starbucks. 7 Brew seems to be about high energy Red Bull-swigging employees balancing fun and efficiency. Dark Side Coffee in North Little Rock has a Star Wars theme. Sweet Cheeks Espresso’s employees wear bikinis.
Its workers are 18-plus, according to a post in January seeking experienced baristas. Some of the women who were hired have been introduced on Sweet Cheeks’ Facebook page with short introductory bios that are wholesome but also read like they could be dating app profiles. We don’t know if they hire people who identify as male, or how bikini-clad baristas will keep their sweet cheeks warm during frigid winter days.
Sweet Cheeks Espresso
The tiny double drive-thru stand with a pink roof is located on a gravel lot right off Eastline Road and looks like its occupancy might max out at five. My editor Austin Bailey wondered what the point of wearing bikinis is if the employees stay inside the store. It’s gotta be about the vibe. A social media post said Sweet Cheeks is a “family-friendly, bikini coffee shop,” and that it’s not affiliated with any other Sweet Cheeks Espresso businesses in other states. The new shop seems to have a lot of positive feedback on Facebook and a post after the opening weekend said it exceeded their expectations.
Sweet Cheeks’ menu consists of the usual variety of coffee drinks, as well as Red Bull and sugar-free Red Bull-infused drinks like the Fruity Booty (strawberry, blackberry, watermelon) De Lime in da Coconut (coconut, lime, cream) and the Bubble Butt (banana, strawberry, vanilla). Muffin tops, granola bars and oatmeal are also available, and an announcement today said protein shakes will also be offered soon.
Sweet Cheeks Espresso is located at 912 Eastline Road and is open from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
