CHICAGO – Some residents of the Lakeview and Roscoe Village neighborhoods went before the city Zoning Board Friday in an effort to close an erotic-theme shop that recently moved in.
The group will appeal a decision to allow the store the Pleasure Chest store to operate at Newport and Lincoln avenues.
They argue the shop should not have been granted a retail permit because it sells adult-themed merchandise. The store sells X-rated books and DVDs, lotions, gels, and gadgets.
But the Pleasure Chest does not have private video viewing booths or peep shows like many traditional adult bookstores. Children are not allowed inside.
“A person has the right of pursuit of happiness and sexuality, and self-awareness is part of that right,” owner Brian Robinson told CBS 2 last June.
At the Friday hearing, one of the neighbors, who is an attorney, alleged the store should not be located in the shopping area because it would be classified as an “adult use” store. Several neighbors claimed there were changes in the neighborhood as a result of the store moving in.
Attorneys for the Pleasure Chest lawyers also presented evidence at the hearing, which lasted about 25 minutes.
The Zoning Board took the evidence under advisement. They said there was no known timeline for a decision in the case.
Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd) said in June that there were no legal grounds to prevent the store from operating.
Before moving to the Lincoln Avenue location, the Pleasure Chest operated from a small storefront on Broadway near Belmont Avenue for decades.