Elyse's Passion has become another victim of the April riots in Over-the-Rhine, the owner says, and the store that sells sexually oriented videos and other items is moving to Northside.

        Owner Elyse Metcalf, who was acquitted of pandering obscenity charges in May, said Thursday she began looking for a new location in October.

Metcalf

        “After the riots, people didn't want to come to Over-the-Rhine,” said Ms. Metcalf, whose business at 1210 Sycamore St. is in the Pendleton section of Over-the-Rhine.

        “On the good days, this is Pendleton. But on the bad days, it's Over-the-Rhine. Since the riots everybody sees this area as Over-the-Rhine,” she said.

        She operated a similar business in the Northside for nearly a year before moving in October 2000 to the present location.

        She met with resistance from people in the community, particularly Jeff Brokamp, principal of the School for Creative and Performing Arts, located a block north of Ms. Metcalf's store, and former Cincinnati Councilman Phil Heimlich.

        In May, Mr. Brokamp said parents would not tolerate a store dealing in sexually oriented materials so close to a school.

        Mr. Brokamp could not be reached for comment Thursday.

        Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen, who prosecuted Ms. Metcalf in the obscenity case, said Thursday, “It's gratifying that the store is moving away from the school. Law enforcement officers will continue to monitor the situation when it moves.”

        Said Ms. Metcalf: “I'm going back to Northside to what I believe is a better location in the business district on Hamilton Avenue.”

        Ms. Metcalf also was charged with operating a sexually oriented business without a license in May, but those charges were dropped.

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