SANTA ROSA, CA — California is famed for being cutting edge when it comes to many things, including sexuality – yet, while the supposedly progressive state’s citizens go to the polls to vote on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of legal marriage, they still struggle with the fact that some retail outlets sell items designed to help citizens enjoy their sexuality. According to the Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA – the fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area – is struggling to come to terms with the existence of the Spice Sensuality Boutique. The shop, which carries lingerie, lotions, and adult toys, opened in late August and has been taking the heat for it ever since.
Located in downtown Santa Rosa, the boutiques owners contend that they offer women a safe and pleasant place to purchase intimate items. City officials, however, insist that the shop violates city adult-oriented product laws and must close unless it changes the kinds of products that it carries on its shelves.
Additionally, nearby shop owners and customers allegedly contend that the small storefront’s presence on Fourth Street is inappropriate. Being located near restaurants and other everyday shopping options is precisely why Chuck Freese and his wife Moira believe their shop is appealing to female customers, who prefer to avoid more seedy establishments.
“Our whole image is to create a safe haven for people,” Chuck Freese explained. “Spice was developed for women.”
Nonetheless, the city sent them a letter in late September informing them that their shop was being reclassified as an adult-oriented business because it sells more than just lingerie – which is apparently never used for erotic purposes – and thus in violation of the city’s zoning rules.
“There are a great deal of products which are within acceptable standards,” Mayor John Sawyer told the Press Democrat. “Some are not.”
Among those items that are “not,” are various colored and shaped dildos, which the Freeses say they are willing to remove in order to stay in business. But the couple worries that it’s not so much their merchandise that’s rattled people as their location.
“We would work with the city, item by item, if we have to,” Chuck assured the press. “We never wanted to fight with the city.”
The Freeses insist that they “went through the right procedure” when submitting their business application, which they insist stated their intention to run a sensuality shop selling “bedroom essentials.”
Apparently city officials disagree with the Freeses about what items are truly essential for a bedroom.
