Saturday, November 06, 1999
Flynt looks to Butler Co.
Hustler store would be near exotic-dance club
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt is interested in buying an abandoned Butler County restaurant here that could be the site of an expanded adult bookstore along Interstate 75.
The proposed adult entertainment store would be next to Bristol's Show Club and Revue which features exotic dancers.
“He is very interested,” restaurateur Tony Gammoh said Friday of Mr. Flynt's preliminary talks concerning Mr. Gammoh's commercial property for sale at the end of Lebanon Road in Monroe.
“If the price is right I'll sell. I hear he wants to put in a big store with ladies' lingerie ... like Victoria's Secret,” said Mr. Gammoh, who declined to provide further details about the preliminary talks.
Neither Mr. Flynt, his attorneys nor representatives with Mr. Flynt's Cincinnati downtown Hustler store were available for comment. But the store's windows were covered Friday in response to a judge's order that it shut down.
The one-acre lot in Butler County is the former site of a Gold Star Chili restaurant, which Mr. Gammoh operated until last year when he moved his restaurant one-half mile east on Ohio 63.
He said the final decision on selling the property is his and does not involve Gold Star Chili in any manner.
In recent years, Butler County has been the site of numerous legal battles concerning adult video stores in Millville, a topless dance club in Hamilton that was closed in June, and anti-pornography groups that have grown more bold in taking a public stance against businesses that provide sexually-oriented materials and entertainment. Bristol's itself has had run-ins over local zoning and liquor licenses, and now operates as a private club.
Randy Trimble, general manager of Bristol's, said he heard of Mr. Flynt's interest and that the prospect of the high profile and self-proclaimed pornographer opening an adult store next to his bar is an exciting one.
“We'd love to have a Hustler store here in Butler County. Even though some people won't admit it, a lot of people like to buy that stuff,” Mr. Trimble said in reference to the sexually explicit videos that were featured in Mr. Flynt's downtown Hustler store.
Earlier this week, the future of that store was put into doubt when a court order closed Mr. Flynt's new Race Street location.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Schweikert made the ruling after Mr. Flynt's landlord, Barry Rand, testified that he never gave permission to lease the building to the Hustlerstore.
Afterwards Mr. Flynt said he intends to open another, larger store, perhaps as soon as in four months, in Butler County but refused to disclose the location.
Some customers at Sara Jane's Restaurant at 1012 Lebanon St., which is an access road next to Ohio 63, said they remain uncomfortable being so close to the exotic dancing that goes on in nearby Bristol's. The idea of having a meal next to an even closer adult bookstore is distasteful, they said.
“We don't need that. We get a lot of older people here. Especially on Sundays a lot of religious people come here,” said Connie Arrowood of Middletown.
Linda Schrock, general manager of Sara Jane's, said “It's bad enough that Bristol's is over there.
“We get families and kids here. It would hurt our business,” said Ms. Schrock.
But Middletown resident Andrew Smith said he is surprised about the uproar over either Bristol's or a proposed adult bookstore.
“I don't think it would affect the community. A lot of people like those stores. I don't but I just won't go there,” said Mr. Smith.
His wife, Lori Smith, echoed her husband's opinion, adding “I don't really like Flynt, but a bookstore doesn't bother me.”
Zoning laws, not public opinion, will ultimately keep out anyone trying to open an adult bookstore in Monroe, said Monroe City Manager Donald Whitman.
Mr. Whitman said the city's zoning ordinances make illegal any adult entertainment business opening adjacent to another — such as Bristol's — or with in 1,000 feet of a motel — one of which stands nearby just across Ohio 63.
All that aside, he said of the adult business discussions: “We don't like it and we'll do anything we can, within reason and our ordinances, to assure that our ordinances are complied by.”
'2% Club' warrants more study, auditors say
Bill asks to post medical lawsuits
Teen donates Christmas tree for square
HMO change may set trend doctors want
Flynt looks to Butler Co.
Voucher order is blocked
Fire ravages Florence eatery
Gracious, polite trick-or-treaters were a delight
Hillsides closely guarded
Enter our Dress A Turkey contest
GET TO IT
'Harmonium' composer leads stirring premiere of choral masterpiece
DANCE REVIEW
ANTIQUES and COLLECTIBLES
Butler Co. to aid in fund hunt for City Centre
Butler County may hook up to Cincinnati water
Court to decide Lebanon land's fate: apartments or park
Democrat announces run against Westwood
Ex-dissidents now elected to run Cleves
Kenton Co. EMTs use breathing tool
Ky. Catholic schools get $25,000 donation
Lebanon to pay fine for illegal meeting
ODOT gives more to transit center
Police signal to warn of cruisers in area
Reading fire chief to take new job
School helpers may face checks
Skaters learn by baby steps
Teen arrested for false 911 cell calls
Tip leads to arrest in Covington drug death
Tongue-twister name didn't stop voters from writing him in
TRISTATE DIGEST
Trotta was tailor to the stars Loved gardening and his family
UofL player hurt in elevator fall
Village honors its boy soldier
