321 News & Video Owner Cries Foul
321 News and Video in Gastonia NC
Gastonia NC: Rick Williams, the owner of 321 News and Video has made his first public statements since the news last month that the store had lost their final legal battle and would be having to close down.
On the 321 web site, Mr. Williams states how he feels that the store was unfairly singled-out and that other similar stores in Gastonia aren’t facing the same fate as 321 News. He also made a point to complain about the lack of progress in the area around the store known as the Highland Community and it’s notorious reputation as a drug haven, going as far as to refer to it as “Crack Town” repeatedly.
In an article posted this evening on the Gaston Gazette web site, Williams goes as far as to threaten to sue the city unless they apply the same laws to other non-conforming stores, specifically mentioning 74 Video and News and Carolina Video Exchange (CVE).
At issue is not the zoning laws, but of another part of State law which allows for only one “adult business” to be under one roof. Most States write laws pertaining to adult businesses and separate different aspects of them info separate business types. In the case of 321 News, by having the video booths as well as adult DVD’s..they in fact, according to law, have 2 adult businesses operating together. This is technically illegal. Mr. Williams point he’s seems to be trying to make is that the other stores are also in violation of this same law.
Based on the city’s response in the Gazette article, it would seem that they will investigate these claims brought by Mr. Williams. This obviously won’t have any bearing on the fate of 321 News and Video however as they’ve already begun the process of closing down. According to their web site they have a store closing sale now and will close at Midnight on June 30th.
How this will effect the other stores in Gastonia is unclear. At the very least these stores can expect to come under closer scrutiny in the near-term. They may also end up having to make changes to their inventory and/or adult video booths/tv and theater rooms in order to comply.
In: Legal News, Retail Stores · Tagged with: 321 news, 74 video, Carolina Video Exchange, cve, gastonia nc, legal, zoning
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