Hustler Hollywood officially opens for business after much drama

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Despite community resistance and ongoing court proceedings, Hustler Hollywood finally opened its doors to the public on Monday, Dec. 6.

According to a city spokesperson, the Metropolitan Planning Commission issued a certificate of occupancy to the store. That certificate, in turn, allowed the business to open.

“A lot of it comes down to what’s in the code and what’s in the definition in what a city will consider an ‘adult business.’ Shreveport has a pretty clear code as to the fact that if you’re under 20% in adult product you have staged, you are not an adult business,” Philip Del Rio, vice president of Hustler Hollywood explained.

Under city ordinance, stores like Hustler Hollywood can open without a special permit so long as displays of sexually explicit materials and novelties don’t exceed 20% of their floor space. He said the company had to make slight changes to meet compliance.

“It was some questions about certain products, that we - as Hustler Hollywood - wouldn’t consider an adult product, but Shreveport did. Through some discussion and some visits to the store, we learned what exactly Shreveport does consider adult products, so we were able to make some small adjustments to the product mix and we’re under that 20%,” Del Rio said.

He said this is not the first time the company has dealt with community friction, but he hopes people truly understand what the business is. Ultimately, he said he is glad that employees are able to get back to work ahead of the holidays.

The new store is located at 6109 Financial Plaza in Shreveport. This is the company’s 47th store in the U.S., and the third store in the State of Louisiana. The first store opened in 1998.

The Shreveport location will carry a large selection of products that cater to any desire or budget, including:

• lingerie
• pleasure product brands
• fashion-forward apparel
• sportswear
• accessories
• jewelry
• bath and body items
• unique gifts, including games and party supplies for bachelor/bachelorette bridal showers, festivals, and more

Representatives of the store say education is a top priority, so the Hustler Hollywood staff receives monthly training from experts from around the country to keep information fresh and up to date to best serve a diverse and inclusive customer base.

“We are very excited to be opened after the long delay,” said Philip Del Rio, VP of Hustler Hollywood.

The store’s opening was met with opposition from many members of the community, and from church and school leaders in the area. The issue was brought before the Shreveport City Council, and a lawsuit was eventually filed in an attempt to keep the store from opening. Many people in the area also signed a petition protesting the store.

On Dec. 7, Shreveport’s mayoral candidate, Greg Tarver, gave a statement regarding the store’s opening.

“I share the concern and shock of the residents of West Shreveport at the opening of the Hustler Hollywood store. If elected, my administration will do everything within our power to close the store and to protect the sanctity of our neighborhoods. I believe the current ordinance on Sexually Oriented Businesses may need to be reviewed and updated. As your next Mayor I will work with my legal team to do just that,” said Tarver.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

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The MPC said it could not make further comment on the situation due to pending litigation.

City officials say court proceedings concerning Hustler Hollywood are ongoing. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12.

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