AJC > NorthSide > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 29
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Love Shack store opens in Johns Creek
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Armed with what he believes are solid loopholes, the owner of a chain of adult video stores opened a new mega-store in the heart of Johns Creek.
The prospect of the opening of a 10,000-square-foot Love Shack at Jones Bridge and State Bridge roads has provoked intense and negative reaction from many residents of the new city of Johns Creek. A townhall meeting on the subject drew more than 1,000 people.
The owner, John Cornetta, opened the store barely 24 hours ahead of when the new city becomes functional at 12:01 a.m. Friday. He said he was in compliance with Fulton County law and ordinances, and therefore could open.
“There’s nothing they can do,” he said. “I’m legal.”
He said he was taking advantage of a provision in county law that allows businesses to open 30 days without a business license. Cornetta argued that because he will be legally open when Johns Creek becomes a city, he will be grandfathered, a reference to a law that protects existing businesses if laws change later.
Cornetta also an Oct. 12 federal court ruling that he said struck down Fulton County’s adult entertainment regulations. But he said, since the Johns Creek store has less than 25 percent adult material, he was in compliance with county regulations anyway. He takes into account such things as pieces of lingerie, whips, incense sticks, and lubricants.
The county has refused to issue Cornetta a business license, claiming that the Love Shack is an adult entertainment business, no matter what Cornetta says. Cornetta has sued in state and federal court, but the case has yet to be decided. A federal judge denied his request to make Fulton County leave him alone until the case is finally decided.
Fulton County attorneys could not be reached for comment.
Later Wednesday Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker said Cornetta was pretty far out on a limb, and said the city would soon pass its own tough set of laws on adult businesses.
“It’s just a smokescreen,” Bodker said. “While I’m not surprised he’s doing this, a judge has already said he can’t do it. He is taking the law into his own hands. We still stand prepared to pass stringent set of ordinances for adult business that have been tested. We intend to uphold the community’s desire to set strong standards for these businesses.”
Earlier, as Cornetta talked to reporters outside, about 25 workers milled about inside, busily putting finishing touches on the store. Music throbbed and strobes flashed. A bed was positioned prominently in the center of the store.
A Fulton County police detective stood nearby with a department spokeswoman, but they said Cornetta hadn’t broken any criminal laws from what they could tell.
A lone woman, obviously distressed, stood about 20 yards away in the parking lot, watching the activity and making several calls on a cell phone. She declined to comment.
Kitty Garrison of North Atlanta Dance Academy, located across the street, was beside herself. She fears that the presence of an adult business so close and so visible will scare away patrons of her ballet studio.
“He can’t do that,” she said. “He has to get court permission.”
One woman who was there to pick up her 6-year-old daughter said she objects to the store being there, but said she wouldn’t stop bringing her girl there.
“It’s a bad location,” said the woman, who wouldn’t identify herself. “But this a wonderful place. I won’t allow them [the Love Shack] to stop me from coming here.”
In the parking lot, Bob Love, who lives nearby, waited for the store to open. He said he’s glad the store is opening.
“Now I don’t have to go to Peachtree Corners,” he said. “I know a lot of people who drive there, but they’re afraid to come out. They’re afraid of the cameras. I’m a little more foolish than they are.”
He said he doesn’t believe it will hurt property values or attract crime as critics claim. Most patrons don’t want any trouble, he said.
“I don’t spend more than 10 minutes in a Love Shack,” he said. “I think people are just afraid of what they’ve never seen.”
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What neighborhood has the best light displays
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are your neighbor’s Christmas lights visible from the international space station? Does your subdivision go so hog-wild with holiday decor that you need a cop to direct traffic? We want to know where the Northside’s most decorated homes and neighborhoods are. Send us an e-mail at northside@ajc.com, or you can post a reply below to tell us your nominee.
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Where are the best Northside holiday lights?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are your neighbor’s Christmas lights visible from the international space station? Does your subdivision go so hog-wild with holiday decor that you need a cop to direct traffic? We want to know where the Northside’s most decorated homes and neighborhoods are. Send us an e-mail at northside@ajc.com, or you can post a reply below to tell us your nominee.
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How would you use $10 or $100 to improve the world?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What if someone gave you $10 or $20 or $100 to use any way you wanted, with only one catch — that you use the money for good.
That’s what happened to about 1,450 worshippers at the Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell earlier this year. The AJC’s Helena Oliviero reports that the church handed out $30,000 in all, in small denominations.
Every person 10 or older randomly received $10, $20, $50 or $100.
What would you do to turn your money into a gift for someone else?
Click here to see what the $30,000 bought — and what it taught the recipients.
UPDATE 11/30: This thread has veered fairly far off topic. What if we just stipulate that some people who believe in God are guilty of hypocritical behavior at times, as are some folks who blog. Anybody have thoughts about what you’d do with the money given the chance?
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Atlantic Station developer has designs on Holcomb Bridge Road
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The man who brought Atlantic Station to midtown Atlanta unveiled plans Tuesday for the largest development project ever in Roswell.
Charlie Brown wants to build a mixed-use minicity valued at up to $2 billion on 107 acres that straddle the east side of Ga. 400 at Holcomb Bridge Road in the heart of north Fulton County.
The plan features several high-rise towers for both residential and commercial uses, mostly in the 20- to 30-story range. The tradeoff is an abundance of greenspace across the entire project, Brown told nearly 200 members of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce who attended a packed breakfast meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Roswell.
Read the full story by the AJC’s Paul Kaplan
What questions do you have about this proposed development? What is your initial reaction to the proposal?
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