YNOT – “We got trouble, right here in River City. With a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for…”
Porn.
A Rowan County, N.C., couple’s uncommon merchandise at The Collector’s Flea Market in Spencer has some local residents steaming. Among pots, pans and other items, Michael and Rebecca Firenze sell adult DVDs.
When the Firenzes opened their business at the market’s permanent facility eight weeks ago, nobody thought much about another merchant joining the crew … until folks realized what the Firenzes kept in the walled-off, locked room in their stall. Now everyone from shoppers to local officials fears the whole town is headed straight for hell.
“I’m sorry if [our merchandise is] offensive to anyone,” Michael Firenze told WSOC-TV. “We have professionals and husband and wife teams who go in there to buy movies. What they do in their house, I have no control over.”
Only customers 18 years of age and older are allowed to enter the “porn room,” Firenze said, and an employee accompanies each customer inside.
That doesn’t ease critics’ minds.
“I don’t like that at all,” shopper Becky Hudson told the television station. “Knowing it is in there, I may not make a second stop.”
The Firenzes’ shop is legal under local zoning laws. According to Town Manager Larry Smith, the flea market is located within a zone approved for adult businesses, but even if it weren’t, the portion of the Firenzes’ business devoted to adult merchandise is too small to require an adult business license.
That has led the Spencer Planning Board to consider whether making local ordinances stricter may be a good idea. The board will deliver recommendations to the town council later this year.
Smith remains circumspect about the controversy. After all, a parking lot full of cars is a good thing, right?
“The fact that [the Firenzes are] bringing in business so early is a good thing,” Smith told WSOC. “As far as the complaints go, we will look into them.”
