New Bern, North Carolina- Even adult store owner Greg Sakas has to admit he’s living in the middle of a movie, albeit a black comedy.

In January, Sakas’ store was raided by the local police backed by the Christian Coalition. Since then Sakas has tried to retrieve his confiscated inventory to no avail. He’s gotten a lot of promises there but no follow-up; and then a couple of weeks ago the Christian Coalition started picketing his store. And even they gave up when the local media didn’t bother giving them any press.

Sakas has a court date next week [July 26]. I ask him how things are going.

“Not worth a damn,” replies Sakas bluntly. “There’s so much interfighting and the police chief and assistant police won’t back down [by returning his property]. I guess they’re still thinking they have a good case. The attorneys are getting together and either we’re going to press forward or stay in limbo. And I’m not willing to stay in limbo. This is just not right. We’ve been here since January, and you’ve got a police chief [Frank Polumbo] that’s dictating policy in that town. We’re supposed to be in court next week, but they’re not prepared to go forwards of this moment. But we are prepared.”

“We’re being told that because of the interfighting, the DA is not willing to dismiss the case,” states Sakas. “He doesn’t want to come off looking like he’s for porn. The city doesn’t want to say enough’s enough, we don’t want the suit. We don’t feel we can win it. So it’s all been left up to the police chief to make one written statement. We’ve even given him an out that would save face. He would say that after an extensive investigation this case would not warrant further prosecution, that there were some problems that have now been alleviated. Anyway they want to word it.”

“But with the picketing that’s been going on, I believe the police are behind this to make it so that the city and DA can’t drop this,” contends Sakas. “I really believe that they are behind this.”

The pickets, according to Sakas, wanted a lot of press but didn’t get it.

“And I didn’t press it by talking to the newspapers,” adds Sakas. “So nothing happened. It was better to keep quiet about the whole thing, so we did. For now our attorneys are telling them we’re ready to go to court with the case. We need to push them into a corner. Prosecute or drop it.”

“But even though this case isn’t going anywhere, the police are stating that they’re going by the law of the land,” Sakas continues. “Even though they did everything incorrectly and everyone knows they’e going to lose this case. But they’re still saying we’ve got you. So you tell me. A piece of shit is what it is.”

Sakas says his attorneys have sent the opposition a number of letters the last several weeks with no response.

“We’ll see what happens,” he says. “And we’re talking about filing a lawsuit. You would have thought this would have been resolved by now but it isn’t.”

What makes Sakas uneasy so far are the verbal agreements he’s received from the city.

“I once had a situation with a city manager telling me we had an agreement, signed off on paper work and then he said I never said that. What is a verbal agreement worth?

“A tinker’s damn to me right now,” says Sakas answering his own question. “The city could come in at any time. Would that surprise you?”

“And the Christian Coalition doesn’t feel like they’ve won because we’re still open,” Sakas notes. “They want us closed down.”

Sakas points to another lawsuit he’s involved in with a religious group on a matter involving a piece of property which housed his former adult store.

“I still had a pending lease- I had someone call me Saturday asking me how much it was and they were very interested it in,” states Sakas. “This is going to be a laugh. Of all the people to call me, this was a church that’s part of this coalition. I said you realize what was in there? He said I don’t. I said it was Pure Bliss [the name of Sakas’ business]. He said I don’t know what to say. I said I’ll tell you what I’ll say- I’m not going to leave the city, and maybe it would be good if you all do move in here. I said, by the way, you can tell your congregation they still get a 20% discount on anything you buy in the store and God bless you all. And now they’re going to put a church in there- or try to.”

Before the 4th of July, Sakas said the same church- the United Pentacostal Holiness Church- pitched a tent across from his store. They were selling fireworks.

“They said come praise God and this country with us- buy your fireworks here,” relatwes Sakas. “The other part of the story which is funny- they were also selling Christian Cream doughnuts. I wanted to ask what kind of cream was in there and who blessed it. I called the pastor and asked him about selling fireworks. I said you’re a Pentacostal church and you feel comfortable about selling fireworks? He said of course I do, I don’t see anything wrong with that.

“I said you probably don’t see anything wrong with having a gun do you? He said, no, I’ve got one. I said, and I’m sure you got it to protect your family and to feed your family. He said that’s exactly what we have it for. I said God bless you sir. he hung up on me.

“This is really friggin’ happening. I feel like I’m in a middle of a movie- a black comedy.”