“No” Problem

“I don’t want to be known as the Pure Pleasure exit on the interstate.”

Elise Moloney, Resident of Pevely, Missouri

Photo by Greg Burkett

Some people just won’t take “no” for an answer. Take Don Kleinhans in Pevely, Missouri (population 3,768), for example. Mr. Kleinhans wanted to open a “sex toy store” on the outskirts of Pevely, near the freeway exit. The town said, “No.” Mr. Kleinhans opened the Pure Pleasure Boutique anyway. When the town demanded that he close the pornography store, he said, “No,” and sued the town. Mr. Kleinhans said it’s his constitutional right to open a store wherever he pleases. Besides, he argued, his store doesn’t sell pornography; it sells sex toys. The town continued demanding that Mr. Kleinhans close the store, and Mr. Kleinhans continued doing business as usual. After almost a year, Mr. Kleinhans’ lawsuit ended up in court, where a judge ruled that the town must hold a zoning hearing to consider Mr. Kleinhans’ request. Fine, said town leaders. A hearing was held, and the aldermen promptly and unanimously said, “No.” Doesn’t matter. Mr. Kleinhans is still in business. At the end of its rope, the town cut off water to the sex store, hoping business would dry up. Nope. Mr. Kleinhans installed a portable toilet, and he says customers are still streaming in. He’s filed a second lawsuit seeking the definition of “sex shop.” It looks like this saga could go on forever, “no” problem.

Read more → Michael Zennie, Small town refuses to turn on water to sex shop but customers keep flowing in, Daily Mail, December 22, 2011.