03/21/2007

OCEAN CITY- A new adult store that opened last Friday in Ocean City has sparked controversy.

SexStyle is located on 137th Street in the same shopping center as an arcade, pizza shop and used bookstore. It sells videos, toys, lingerie and other adult items.

Customers must be at least 18-years-old to enter the store. Everyone will be carded at the door.

Owners Ofir Bouzaglo and Moshe Bitton also own a similar store in Salisbury.

"This is only a retail business," Bitton said. "There is not live entertainment, view booths, and we don't want to do anything like that, not even rentals. Everything is new and in boxes, so people can come in and see this is a clean store."

Bouzaglo and Bitton filled out standard paperwork to receive a business license. The store passed every inspection from the planning and zoning commission and fire marshal.

Ocean City Town Manager Dennis Dare said the store is treated like any other retail store, and the adult content has constitutional protection.

"Ocean City is part of the United States and First Amendment rights apply here," he said. "We think of ourselves in a wholesome matter in a family standpoint but that doesn't mean you can prohibit someone's First Amendment rights."

He went on to explain that the mayor and council did not take the application for the store lightly.

"We took this application very seriously, and looked at ways the store could be violating any codes, but it passed every test so the owners received all the permits," Dare said.

Ocean City resident Andre Farhood said he is surprised the store opened in a town that is known for its family friendliness.

"In this town here, summertime, all the kids are coming here in the area and under [age] 18," Farhood said. "You know it's a beach area, so when kids are around it's just not a good idea."

Other locals said adult stores are not a big deal, since it is up to individuals to decide whether to shop at them.

Mary Anne Mangum said, "It doesn't bother me. Each to their own. It's up to the customers what they want, what their preference is. I don't see a problem. The store is not hurting anyone and anyone who has kids knows not to take them into that kind of environment."

Bitton said signs for the store interior are arriving on Thursday afternoon. They will read, "Sex is good" and "Relax...it's just sex."

Dare said the mayor and council are looking at how other towns regulate this type of business.

He said prohibiting them is not an option, but there could be zoning restrictions on where adult stores are located.