Johns Creek, Georgia- Johns Creek is going to war.
About 900 residents of the new city converged at Chattahoochee High School to discuss what to do about the Love Shack, an adult business chain that wants to put a superstore in the heart of town.
They vowed to fight the owner, John Cornetta [pictured], in the courts, at city hall, at the Gold Dome and on his own turf.
“If they open, we’re prepared,” said Mayor-designate Mike Bodker. “If they don’t open, we’re prepared. We’re prepared to regulate adult businesses in Johns Creek.”
Cornetta, owner of the 10-store adult video chain, on Aug. 17 sued Fulton County in federal court for denying him a business license for a new 10,000-square-foot store at Jones Bridge and State Bridge roads.
Cornetta said the county should give him a regular business license because his store will open with less than 25 percent of its merchandise qualifying as adult material. More than 25 percent adult merchandise makes a store officially adult and triggers zoning restrictions and other enforcement issues.
Fulton County officials have said it’s still an adult business and Cornetta needs to get appropriate zoning or move.
Fulton County senior attorney Steve Rosenberg received nearly a minute’s applause when he proclaimed, “We plan to fight the lawsuit. We plan to keep the Love Shack shut down in Johns Creek.”
Bodker said one of the first things the City Council will do when it takes office Dec. 1 will be to pass a series of adult entertainment ordinances. He said he’s working on laws defining obscenity, adult entertainment, zoning adult businesses and banning alcohol at adult businesses.
He said state Rep. Mark Burkhalter (R-Alpharetta) will introduce legislation re-establishing the state’s obscenity law, which was overturned earlier this year by a federal appellate court.
One woman addressing the crowd suggested they could fill up the Love Shack’s parking spaces, take pictures of patrons and create an unfriendly business atmosphere.
One man, Chris Wagner, 37, spoke against a crackdown on the Love Shack.
“It’s a slippery slope,” he said. “Once you start banning certain types of businesses, what’s next? They’re trying to force their morality on others. Fundamentalists are ruining this country.”
Tom Embrey, 84, saw it differently.
“I live in a community close to where this is going,” he said. “The whole city is against it because of the clientele that will be attracted, their moral character and their effect on children.”
Jason and Meredith Malec said they’re pleased that the authorities are trying to keep the store from opening.
“I was impressed,” Jason, 35, said. “I was impressed so many people showed up. It demonstrates that people are fired up.”