Love Shack Loses Latest Round Against Johns Creek

Odette Yousef



ATLANTA, GA (2008-02-22) The latest round in an ongoing dispute between an adult-novelty store and Johns Creek seems to have been settled in the city's favor.

Johns Creek declined to grant a business license to The Love Shack several months ago, saying it had too much adult-oriented material to operate in a commercial zone. But the store continued to operate.

Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker says that forced the city to appeal to Fulton County's Superior Court:

BODKER: We don't have a choice in the matter. We have a law, it's been broken, and we are duty-sworn to uphold it.

But Attorney Cary Wiggins, who represents the Love Shack's owner, says that city ordinances don't forbid businesses from operating without licenses, and moreover:

WIGGINS: Cities aren't supposed to use their business license ordinance as a mechanism to shut down businesses.

Wiggins also says that the store has changed its inventory, so that it no longer qualifies as sexually explicit.

He'll wait to see the judge's written ruling, expected next week, before deciding whether to appeal.


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