Adult store to open in Old Town Manassas

MANASSAS, Va. - An retail store advertising adult DVDs, lotions, lingerie, toys and more hasn’t opened for business yet in Old Town Manassas, but it is drawing a lot of heavy opposition.

KK’s Temptations has “opening soon” on its store front window on 9411 Battle St., but local officials are looking for ways to prevent the opening and have even set up public hearings for residents’ comments.

A delegate from Manassas said “a porn shop in Old Town Manassas makes the heinous Liberty Street Sign seem like child’s play and would ruin the reputation of Old Town.” 

In leading the charge, Del. Jackson Miller, 50th District, said  “Tuesday night I was informed of some extremely disturbing news. After spending more than $300,000 of our tax dollars on improvements to give Battle Street a facelift, what do we get? A porn shop.”

Mayor Harry “Hal’ Parrish II said  “A business license was administratively approved several weeks ago by staff, using the same process other licenses are approved. No special permit is required by State Code or local ordinances. The Council is actively engaged to assure the business abides by all federal, state and local code both today and in the future.”

Jackson said he has been warned by others not to charge straight into this situation, that a furor would only give the porn shop more publicity and more business.

“However, I simply cannot just sit back and take a wait and see approach. I certainly don’t have all the answers to any issue. In fact, I get many good ideas from friends and constituents. As such, I have scheduled a town hall meeting for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the City Council chamber at Manassas City Hall to hear ideas and suggestions from the public.”

Jackson said that for his more liberal and libertarians friends,  this is not a general campaign against pornography. This is about keeping Old Town Manassas a positive and family-friendly place to visit, work and live.

“Please attend the meeting. The reputation of Old Manassas is at stake,” he said.

E-mails sent by the News & Mesenger to the store owners were not answered.

It’s website states: “KK’s Temptations is a family owned business. Our desire is to create an environment that is safe, comfortable and fun were both men and women can feel at lease in fulling their fantasies and desires.”

Business owners in the area have also come out against the store.

“This is absolutely the wrong kind of business to have in this community, where we have worked so hard to have a quality environment,” said Sally Lay, executive director of The Center for the Arts in the adjacent Candy Factory.

She added: “We have more than a 1,000 children coming here for programs and camps. They will be walking right past the store. What kind of a negative message will they get?”

Ann Harrover, president of the Manassas Museum  Association, said “Frankly, I think that is disgusting that someone has given a business like this a permit to be in Old Town when we have been breaking out necks to bring in tourists and people for the upcoming 150th anniversary of the start of the First Battle of Manassas. There are children coming in and out of the doors of the Center for the Arts. We don’t need trash like this in  Old Town. Let them do what ever they want somewhere else.”

Joanne Wunderly, who owns The Things I Love at 9425 West St. and a half-block from the proposed store, said “It sets right on the street where we hold several family-friendly Old Town festivals, including the upcoming Fall Jubilee. It is only one block away from the train station, Manassas Museum, and the Harris Pavilion where we have family concerts and local charity benefits. I don’t think the location is right for our community as so many people have worked tirelessly trying to make Old Town Manassas a family-friendly experience to dine, shop and visit. Such a shop dropped right into the middle of all that the city has worked so hard to achieve simply does not mix.”