Officials: Store’s inventory led to closing
May 10, 2012 at 3:39 pm in Grand Forks Herald
City open to relocation of adult-themed businessIt wasn’t a specific item, but the totality of the store’s adult merchandise that led East Grand Forks city officials Wednesday to judge that Fantasy’s couldn’t open in a commercial district, according to city administrator Scott Huizenga. Continue Reading
This is so stupid. I bought a pack of vibrators at Walmart last week. Right next to the jelly. Why is our society being so stupid about this? Really. People really need to let people go about their business and let others do theirs.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
51 
11
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
26 
37
I do believe according to the article the business is owned by both him and her. Not just her finally a case where its not all the woman’s fault.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
22 
6
I get the issue about opening without a permit. That is totally understandable. My issue is that city officials (both sides of the river) are turning human nature and sexuality into taboo. Since the beginning of time humans have been using tools and adoring their bodies to attract and or enhance each other. This is not the same thing as a prono shop. I also believe it isn’t very fair that Spencer’s, Walmart, and a host of other stores can sell these items, and we shun this one. JC Penny’s sells lingerie too better not let the kids near the mall. Oh and by the way, I live in East Grand Forks, in that neighborhood as a matter of fact. My kids bike past there daily and play in the park near there. I dont believe creeps are going to be sitting outside lurking around waiting to snatch a woman because she shopped at that store. More likely to happen at valley dairy on washington….no i dont go there. I would much rather have this store than the pizza drivers that used to rip in and out of there!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
46 
7
I agree the VD on Washington is a shady place but the dive hotels located in walking distance don’t really help their reputation. However, the problem is the situation you are describing has already occurred in GF and it occurred in an area (Columbia mall) the city exempted from their requirements.
Why did the city exempt this location when you consider its history? Because the stores located here have enough money to take this nonsense to court and make the city look stupid
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
27 
3
The city didn’t exempt them. Prevailing law exempted them. The city attorney researched it. It seemed to be consensus that they wished they didn’t have to exempt them. But the situation is different. It is essentially private property and the access is less accidental and more intentional. If you don’t want to see Victoria Secret, you don’t have to go to that section of the mall (which I don’t). But if you live near the storefront that will become Fanstasy’s, you have no choice. It isn’t intentional in that case. It is somewhat forced on you.
May not have done a good job explaining, but people have got to realize “the city” doesn’t do this. The city councils are made up of citizens elected through majority vote. They respond to concerns by the majority of the population. That’s how it works, kids.
Like or Dislike:
7 
7
Congratulations on your purchase however please stop supporting big business like Walmart and support a locally owned shop… oh wait we don’t allow local business to sell they same stuff we allow at Walmart to sell and compete based on location. Grand forks shops that sell this need to located in a field that nobody can find.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
41 
7
I think some of these politicians and protesters need to read 50 Shades of Grey, buy a few items from stores like this and lighten up!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
30 
4
Most of these politicians are likely keepingthe business out of the town because they know they cant control their own urges to go in and make purchases.
“Cant eat the cookie if the cookie isnt there”.
Like or Dislike:
19 
7
“if you sell items that vibrate, you are an adult store”.
Interesting, who knew that Verizon wireless was an Adult store.
Learn something new everyday….
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
31 
4
let me tell you my sander vibrates a bunch come to think of it so does my lawnmower and snowblower…….
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
22 
1
Sounds like a good way to get hurt, glen. Ow! Ow! Ow!
Please, for your own good, don’t try the Red Green approach to saving a buck.
Wonder if Romantix sells duct tape?
Like or Dislike:
11 
1
No REAL man needs any sex supplies beyond duct tape and WD-40.
Like or Dislike:
10 
1
I think you left out a van with no windows in back to your list…….For the “Real Man” OOf-Da
Like or Dislike:
7 
1
My washing machine vibrates.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
15 
0
This shop is just a more friendly romantix. It carries all of the same inventory but less dvds and magazines from my understanding. it still is a sex shop based on the inventory. If you truly understood the point about opening up without a permit you would understand she doesn’t belong there! She is in the wrong zone, and she is trying to tell the city to let her be. I truly hope the city does the right thing and makes her relocate. we don’t just choose which laws we want to follow so why should she?
Like or Dislike:
11 
15
I assume you’re the jerk in the Buick that drives 5 mph below the speed limit down Columbia? Not picking and choosing which laws you do/do not like?
Like or Dislike:
10 
1
Really real girl? You live in that neighbor hood? You stated earlier your children go by there on their way to the park AND school. This is impossible the park and schools are in opposite directions of the buisness. They must walk at least a block or 2 out of their way to accomplish this.
Like or Dislike:
8 
6
Yep. My kids go to south point and central middle school…. Right past the store. Of course, in the winter they will ride past it on the bus but then they might walk past it with their sleds. My point is other than the fact that she opened up without a business permit I’m not afraid of what they will see.
Like or Dislike:
12 
4
South point or South Park?
Like or Dislike:
6 
4
Ha ha. Straight A students. No south park for them.
Like or Dislike:
6 
2
I have to disagree with you. A sex shop has no buisness in residential neighborhoods. If it did east grand forks would have zoned that type of buisness comercial but they did not. They zoned it industrial and that is where this buisness belongs. Notice I do not state any moral objections or attacks against her clients because I belive she has the right to her buisness but it needs to be located differently.
Like or Dislike:
10 
17
The really sad part about this whole thing is that this shop is already in your house and it is 100 times worse then what they were selling. Now I bet your wondering where this shop is. Well your looking at it right now its your computer conected to the internet.
Like or Dislike:
14 
3
These business owners are two of the smartest marketing people ever to come to the community. All this free publicity – everyone will know exactly where the store is and they will not have spent a dime on advertising! Way to fool the media into your plan – love it!
Like or Dislike:
12 
1
Not really all that smart…..I too said they were getting a boat load of free publicity, but then they went and did a bone headed move like start another lease for three years then open up without making sure they wer up to code or anything…..You can’t make much money if you can’t open shop.
You have to wonder what the mind set was to think they’d just open shop without doing what business has to do with a city before they can open shop. Did they think that nobody would notice there was a new shop that hasn’t the right permits and such?
Like or Dislike:
11 
2
An adult buisness that comes in completly under the radar and decides on her own where she should be located cannot and will not be a good thing. If she followed the rules and cooperated with egf they would have found a suitable home and her buisness would be open.
Like or Dislike:
7 
6
Look up fantasysrus and check the inventory. This is the same inventory at romantix or any other sex shop. It even has a nice little youtube video showing the backroom inventory. Check it out and than tell me again how its just a lingre shop or similar to what department stores sell. Last time I check beads, male and female “toys”, swings, and ect were not sold in dept stores. This is not something that should be in residential neighborhoods. I can’t think of any other town that has a sex shop that is located adjacent to residential lots.
Like or Dislike:
5 
8
Driving below the speed limit would be following the law. There is a big difference between speeding and ignoring regulations when opening a reguated buisness.
Like or Dislike:
2 
2
Don’t talk anything that’s said on here to seriously ron. We are a group of ‘social misfits’. Welcome to the club.
Like or Dislike:
7 
0
Now to see they are going to sue both EGF and GF.Shoulda seen that coming. They should also be suing to get out of their leases. I’m pretty sure Lucy Nordenstrom, a Red River grad, wouldn’t mind letting her out of the lease on N Washington with a little publicity.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Now I’m a tad bit annoyed with the Patterson’s. Suing EGF? They snuck in the back door under the cover of darkness and now they are suing us? I hope they lose in court and EGF goes after them for court costs.
Like or Dislike:
1 
2