Taboo Video – Montavilla News

Dollhouse Espresso recently reopened its Bikini Coffee stand in the Taboo Video parking lot at 2330 SE 82nd Avenue. Earlier this year, the coffee cart vacated its previous location at 1133 SE 82nd Avenue to find a more supportive host business and is now featuring an expanded shop with a new menu in the parking lot of the adult entertainment store. Montavilla News spoke to owner Jessica Cody in April 2024 about her latest venture, and the following is an updated version of that article.

Jessica Cody purchased the original Dollhouse Espresso cart with donations from supporters who were interested in seeing a woman-owned stand that would create a safe space for the people working there. Although barista attire is a theme of the cart, Cody and her staff strive to deliver well-made coffee, tasty food, and friendly service to all customers.

Pink coffee cart named Dollhouse Espresso located in a parking lot, featuring a menu display in the window and a portable restroom nearby. — *_{Dollhouse Espresso’s original cart in 2024}*

Cody has worked as a dancer and bartender for several years. She continues to do that work to help support the growing business, sometimes working from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next day. However, it was her work abroad that sparked a genuine passion for coffee service. “I used to live in Australia before the pandemic on a working visa. I lived there for about two years, and I managed a really great coffee shop in Perth. That’s where I learned how to make good, authentic coffee,” Cody recalled.

Bikini coffee has a varied history in the Pacific Northwest, and Jessica Cody was an early employee in that industry before moving to Australia. Through that tumultuous experience, she developed her idea for a respectful woman-run business. “I had a very bad experience working at a bikini coffee stand when I first did it years ago. It was called Dream Girls,” recalled Cody. The former owner of Dream Girls now faces charges of sexual abuse and rape, along with other crimes reportedly committed against some of his employees. Cody felt that Dollhouse Espresso presented an opportunity to return to bikini coffee work while creating a safe space for this type of service. Many of the people working there are her friends, and she operates the stand in a similar manner to an employee-run shop.

A small, pink and white coffee stand named Dollhouse Espresso located in the parking lot of Taboo Video, with a clear blue sky above. — *_{Dollhouse Espresso’s new larger cart at its current location}*

Part of Cody’s vision for Dollhouse Espresso is to make people feel respected inside and outside the cart. “I feel like we are friendly and welcoming enough for everybody, any part of the community. I try to hire women of all different shapes, sizes, and colors,” said Cody. The organization is LGBTQ-friendly, and Cody says families come through often. “I try to make it exciting for everybody,” explained Cody.

The path to opening this new business has not been without issues and false starts. Dollhouse Espresso opened previously in Vancouver, Washington, operating for just three months. Cody said the landlord raised the rent on her with little notice and caused property damage when she did not pay the increase. In 2024, she had to relocate and regroup. Having lived in Montavilla during her youth and worked in some nearby businesses, SE 82nd felt like the ideal spot for the stand’s long-term home. “The demographics seem great for what I’m trying to do here, especially for girls being in bikinis,” said Cody.

The shop is currently open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but Cody expects to extend the hours soon. She placed the stand near Taboo Video’s north parking lot entrance, close to the building. Walk-ups and bicyclists are welcome to visit the window adjacent to the sidewalk, but people outside a vehicle should use caution, as it serves drive-up customers.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Crews with Raimore Construction are creating a new paved sidewalk on the east side of SE 82nd Avenue north of SE Division Street. The work will replace mostly asphalt pedestrian walkways with standard city concrete sidewalks that better connect pedestrians to a pre-existing rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) enhanced mid-block crossing. When completed, pedestrians will gain over 300 feet of accessible walkway with defined driveway access points.

This work is part of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Building a Better 82nd initiative and its 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project. Since the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation to PBOT on June 1st, 2022, planners have worked to implement safety improvements and address deferred maintenance along the seven-mile stretch of roadway. This short section of sidewalk infill addresses one of many areas on the former State Highway where legacy infrastructure leaves people outside of cars more vulnerable to injury. The previous asphalt walkway created a fuzzy line between where the sidewalk starts and the parking lot ends. It also allowed driveway curb cuts to extend into the pedestrian zone wider than needed so drivers could turn into the business parking area in unpredictable spots. The sloped surface of the asphalt could become challenging for people who use assistive mobility devices and limited access.

*_{82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project Draft Design graphic courtesy PBOT}*

The sidewalk conditions directly to the north and south of this infill project are of varying conditions and widths but at least adhered to general sidewalk standards. The intersection of SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street is a frequently used transit corridor, and many people need to use the sidewalks in this area to connect or transfer from the TriMet 72 and FX 2 lines. This location is also directly across the street from Portland Community College’s Southeast campus, which has the potential to generate substantial foot traffic when students attend in-person classes.

Sidewalk work is underway in front of Taboo Video at 2330 SE 82nd Avenue. Work will continue south along the east side of SE 82nd Avenue. Drivers should anticipate curbside lane closures during the project and follow flagger directions to allow business access during construction. Pedestrians should use SE 82nd Avenue’s west sidewalk or follow the sidewalk detour around the worksite. Crews working for PBOT will install additional in-street extended median islands in the center turn lane at a future date.