MONROE — Christmas shopping season is important to retailers, even those that specialize in adult entertainment.

        That's why construction crews are hastily working in this Butler County community to finish Hustler of Hollywood by the end of November and in time for holiday business, said Jimmy Flynt, manager of the first large-scale expansion of the popular Hollywood, Calif. adult store.

        “We are looking forward to being open during the holidays. That's why we are going so aggressively. I'm in the retail business,” said Mr. Flynt, brother of Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler magazine and a national advocate for sexually oriented entertainment.

Concrete work is performed this week at the Hustler of Hollywood store in Monroe. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        The 7,000-square-foot Hustler of Hollywood, for which the Flynt brothers broke ground in May, was supposed to open during the summer. But construction delays have pushed that back.

        Described by Jimmy Flynt as an “upscale erotic boutique,” the land and the retail store together are estimated to cost $1 million. The single-story store is just inside the eastern border between Butler and Warren counties at 1038 Lebanon St.

        Mr. Flynt also manages a smaller Hustler store in downtown Cincinnati that does not carry sexually explicit, adult videos but does sell explicit magazines, sexual novelties and some clothing.

        He said, however, that the Monroe store will offer sexually explicit videos but will comply fully with city zoning laws that require adult businesses to have an inventory of no more than 40 percent adult materials.

        “We'll comply with all Monroe zoning laws ...,” said Mr. Flynt.

        Initially the Flynts' plans to use the Monroe site as a prototype retail test for a chain of national Hustler of Hollywood stores brought protests from some Monroe residents and anti-pornography groups. But opposition has dissipated in recent months.

        Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, said, however, that opponents of the store plan to hold prayer vigils near Mr. Flynt's store once it opens and will offer counseling information for male patrons, whom Mr. Burress described as “addicted to pornography.”

        “We'll definitely be there when they open,” Mr. Burress said. “Our plan is not so much to protest, but to help men struggling with pornography.”

        Terry Gault, a resident of nearby Hamilton, said he doesn't understand those who oppose the adult retail store.

        “(The) way I look at it, people don't have to go into it if they don't want to,” Mr. Gault said. “It's away from any schools and there aren't any kids living around here.”
       

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