Adult Products Store Vows Federal Court Fight Against Berlin

Daniel Silver, VIP's lawyer, said he was disappointed in the opinion the state Supreme Court issued Monday, affirming the right of town officials to restrict the location of sexually oriented businesses.

[Good Greef]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thing the Attorney for VIP better re-read the First Amendment!

[Think B4U Think]

Sounds like a sticky argument. Is it zoning or morality that's the issue here? There was a furniture store there once if I'm not mistaken. Now they say they sell fireworks there. So it is zoned for retail business, and VIP is a legitimate business. I'm not familiar with VIP specifically, but geez, isn't there a Vicroria Secret at the mall? Do parents hide their kids' eyes when they walk by it on the way to buy them Grand Theft Auto and the latest gangster rap music?

[Courant loves sex]

Oh yeah baby...two sex stories on one front page....the Courant loves it! Maybe one day the Courant will be restristed to adult business zones in town.

[LOL]

Think B4U Think makes an excellent point. I'm afraid I am a NIMBY on this. I think it is constitutional to have VIP in Berlin at that location - but I would vote against it if I had the chance, knowing I was probably wrong.

Terrible thought.

[GGG]

If you dont' agree w/ VIP don't go in the store however people who want to shop or visit a store like this should have the right to do so. There is a VIP in Manchester, in a commerical and close to a residential area. It is descrete, its not like it says 'SEX SHOP' on the billboard where all the kids can see it, they are very responsible and do not allow anyone under the age of 18 in the store, there is a security guard and everything. Really if you do not agree w/ the store just drive by and ignore, I would rather a VIP then a firework store which lets kids get their hands on explosives.

[News watcher II]

I hope the town of Berlin wins this one, not like the town of Newington having a smut shop on the Berlin Turnpike near a neighborhood where there are kids. Newington, has no idea how to bring in good business just junk.

[davejm53]

I wonder if all the townspeople who are against this store also restrict their children AND themselves from unsatisfatory television programming? They either do, or they are hypocrates.

[Lori]

I feel the people in Berlin really need to just get over it. I happen to live right next to a Kahoots & a VIP. And has no & will have no affect whatsoever on me or my son. What is the difference if its next door or down the street? Do you think they're gonna display some big ****'s in the windows for all to see? Geesh!

[Lori]

the word blocked out was d i l * o

[13yearcit]

Think B4U Think wrote:

Sounds like a sticky argument. Is it zoning or morality that's the issue here? There was a furniture store there once if I'm not mistaken. Now they say they sell fireworks there. So it is zoned for retail business, and VIP is a legitimate business. I'm not familiar with VIP specifically, but geez, isn't there a Vicroria Secret at the mall? Do parents hide their kids' eyes when they walk by it on the way to buy them Grand Theft Auto and the latest gangster rap music?

I agree, not to mention that we ARE talking about the Berlin Tpke where there is a "by the hour" motel every 25 feet. Most of these motels are also full time homes for a lot of undesirables. VIP purchased the property and it IS a commercial strip so they should be able to use the property for their store.

[Next door neighbor]

GGG -
While the Manchester store is relatively close to residential homes, it is at least 800 ft from the first one. More than two football fields in length.
Next, it is not discreet, it is bright mustard yellow. And no, they are not checking ID's at the door. There is no security guard, or at least not the last time checked. This theory has been tested several times, and as a matter of fact, there is no law in CT restricting minors from entering adult book stores, only making purchases. The Atty. General discovered this loophole.
If you live in the neighborhood next to the store, you can just ignore it. Its open until 2am.
If this store where not located next to residential homes, there would be no issue with them coming to Berlin. But they are zero feet from homes on 3 sides. This is a zoning issue, not a morals issue.
As far as fireworks, in CT, the laws regulating fireworks limit them and "explosives" are not allowed to be sold. That is why people drive out of state to get the big ones. And the fireworks store actually DOES check and prohibit the sale of their products to minors. This has also been verified.

Lori, there is no way that you live less than 250 feet from both Kahoots and VIP, as there are no residential homes within 250 feet of the other VIP locations.

[Next door neighbor]

That should read "if you live in the neighborhood next to the store, you CAN'T just ignore it."

[Ole Redneck]

I don't get it. Ain't there kids gettin it on in the classroom in eighth grade while they get videod? Don't think this store will corrupt today's kids. Too late.

[Lori]

Next door neighbor wrote:

GGG -
While the Manchester store is relatively close to residential homes, it is at least 800 ft from the first one. More than two football fields in length.
Next, it is not discreet, it is bright mustard yellow. And no, they are not checking ID's at the door. There is no security guard, or at least not the last time checked. This theory has been tested several times, and as a matter of fact, there is no law in CT restricting minors from entering adult book stores, only making purchases. The Atty. General discovered this loophole.
If you live in the neighborhood next to the store, you can just ignore it. Its open until 2am.
If this store where not located next to residential homes, there would be no issue with them coming to Berlin. But they are zero feet from homes on 3 sides. This is a zoning issue, not a morals issue.
As far as fireworks, in CT, the laws regulating fireworks limit them and "explosives" are not allowed to be sold. That is why people drive out of state to get the big ones. And the fireworks store actually DOES check and prohibit the sale of their products to minors. This has also been verified.
Lori, there is no way that you live less than 250 feet from both Kahoots and VIP, as there are no residential homes within 250 feet of the other VIP locations.

How in the world are you going to tell me where I live!

[duh]

Good Greef wrote:

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thing the Attorney for VIP better re-read the First Amendment!

Could you please expand on this a bit. I'm not discounting what you're saying but ATTY Silver (who probably is scum) is saying that adult material is protected i.e. "the people vs. larry flynt." I would like to hear an arguement against this.
And before I get attacked, I'm not stating my opinion I would just like more info before I agree with somebody elses.

[Beckie]

As a mom to an 8 year old boy - I would be much more concerned about there being a fireworks store across from my house than a VIP.

[Next door neighbor]

You said "I happen to live right next to a Kahoots and a VIP"
I know for a fact that the other VIP locations do not have residential properties within 250 ft, so you can't possible live "right next to" VIP, not in any way comparable to how close I would have to live next to a VIP.
However, if you don't mind living that close, I may have a house for sale, and all of you how wouldn't mind having VIP as a next door neighbor can try to outbid eachother to buy it!

[a mom]

News watcher II wrote:

I hope the town of Berlin wins this one, not like the town of Newington having a smut shop on the Berlin Turnpike near a neighborhood where there are kids. Newington, has no idea how to bring in good business just junk.

What junk stores are you talking about?

[Lori]

Next door neighbor wrote:

You said "I happen to live right next to a Kahoots and a VIP"
I know for a fact that the other VIP locations do not have residential properties within 250 ft, so you can't possible live "right next to" VIP, not in any way comparable to how close I would have to live next to a VIP.

However, if you don't mind living that close, I may have a house for sale, and all of you how wouldn't mind having VIP as a next door neighbor can try to outbid eachother to buy it!

wow.

I'm not going to bust out the ruler. But I live RIGHT NEXT TO a Kahoots and a "VIP LIKE" store. They are attached to the same building.

Get a grip. Sell your house? I won't be bidding if I am going to have to live next to a bunch of people with their noses in the air.

I think I'll vote to pass.

[GGG]

"Next, it is not discreet, it is bright mustard yellow. And no, they are not checking ID's at the door. There is no security guard, or at least not the last time checked. This theory has been tested several times, and as a matter of fact, there is no law in CT restricting minors from entering adult book stores, only making purchases. The Atty. General discovered this loophole."

I didn't realize bright mustard store was code for 'this is a sex shop' and as for the security and checking ID's you should go back b/c they do have them, even if they didn't its up to parents to supervise there kids, next we are going to say there can not be a bar or a comedy club in the area b/c their are age restrictions