Tarboro, North Carolina- The new business at 214 Main St. in the historic small town of Tarboro has almost everyone talking – and it hasn’t opened yet.

“It’s a disgrace,” local resident Carlton Adkins said. “Local people don’t like it. It shouldn’t be here.”

Adkins is talking about the Majestic Adult Center, an adult book and video store taking over the old Majestic Theatre. He and other neighboring business owners and longtime residents worry will reflect a negative image on the downtown area.

“It tears down everything people in Tarboro have tried to build up,” Adkins said.

He’s not alone in his concerns. Town leaders say they have received numerous calls about the bookstore.

“We’ve had several complaints from citizens,’ Tarboro Planning Director Troy Lewis said.

So, town leaders are proposing a new zoning ordinance that would not allow adult establishments within 1,000 feet of day cares, schools, parks, churches and residential areas.

Town leaders expect a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance by April. If passed, Majestic would violate many of those rules.

“It would give it 12 months to come into compliance with the new ordinance,” Lewis said.

“If (the ordinance) is passed, that it would be illegal, that would be great,” said Crystal Bulluck, who opposes the business in the downtown area. “We want our city to grow, but not with this kind of growth.”