Planned adult video store has Blount County business owner worried
Planned adult video store has Blount County business owner worried Save Email Print
Posted: 6:25 PM Sep 4, 2008
Last Updated: 6:25 PM Sep 4, 2008

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MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The owner of a martial arts business in Maryville who teaches young children is upset about a business that's looking to relocate right behind his facility. An application has been filed with the city to put an adult oriented business that sells adult videos and novelties in that location.

The owner of the adult store says there will be no windows and no way to see in.

But just a sign with the store’s name is enough for some to be upset over. The store will be named “All Day, All Nite, Fantasy Delite.”

Maryville has its set of bars and other establishments but now they could be getting a little risqué.

Maryville spokesperson Pam Arnett says, "We have an application for an adult oriented business which is a first within the Maryville city limits."

The business hopes to locate just off highway 411 in the back of a set of businesses.

But for David Church who runs his own martial arts business in front and serves very young children, that doesn't sit well.

Church says, "Their families and they don't necessarily want to bring their children to a facility that has that type of business in it."

The parent of an eight year old martial arts student is concerned who she feels the business may attract.

Mother Kim Effler says, "The lists are astronomical of the number of sex offenders that we have in Blount county."

But Debbie Yantis who plans to open the store says she's not had any problems in the ten years she's run a similar store in McMinn County.

The property manager says there are laws for her to follow and he doesn't believe in discrimination.

Property manager Dan Williams says, "In my opinion it's not up to me nor somebody else to say you can't do this, even though it's a legal business."

But for Thomas Hembree's mom, she won't be just dropping her son off if the store locates there.

Effler says, "I'll take my kids hand and he and I will walk in together and that's the way he'll walk out. He won't be allowed in the parking lot."

And David Church plans to continue his fight to see it doesn't get there.

Church says, "We are going to continue to kinda protest and get the community involved."

Yantis hopes to get the store open in six to eight weeks, but she says it could take as long as November.

City officials say they are currently doing background checks on all employees and making sure the building will be up to code.

They also say there will be a time later for public input on the issue.

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