Local Sex Store Battles City to Remain Open

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO)  —  The opening of Taboo Adult Superstore in 2011 was quite controversial. To this day, feathers are still being ruffled. In fact, business owners have to go before City of Columbia officials Thursday to see if their business license can be extended due to, they say, financial hardship.

In an exclusive television interview with ABC Columbia News, owners of the city’s only X-rated novelties store, Taboo, claim they are unable to meet their bottom line due to restrictions placed on the business two years ago when it first opened.

“Under the [City] ordinance, it says we are allowed to make our initial investment back. At this time, we haven’t done that,” said store manager, Larry Boyer.  “With our hands being tied at midnight, it’s hard to get our business back and make all the money that would be made.”

Boyer says the City’s ordinance that requires the store to close at midnight, impedes the ability to make a profit.  By law, such a business must close at 12:00am. He claims peak hours for sexually oriented stores that sell X-rated movies, lingerie and sex toys are from midnight to 6:00am. He adds the store originally was 24 hours; however, shortly after opening, City officials changed the ordinance to state closing time should be 12:00am. Come Thursday, store officials will go before City officials to ask for a business license extension based on what they call financial hardship.

Taboo owners will have to prove such a hardship exists.  One City official confirms with ABC Columbia a hearing is set for 10:00 am Thursday.  She added, for a business to come forward for such a hearing is very “unusual.”

Business owners say they expect the extension; they won’t know until 10 days after the hearing whether it’s granted. If denied, owners say they will appeal.