The owner of a hunting and fishing store in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia--which advertises itself as the place where the Founding Fathers used to hang out--wants to expand his store. The city's architectural review board, intent on preserving the colonial vibe of the neighborhood, blocks him. So what does he do? He rents part of his building to a new store that the Founding Fathers probably would not have frequented:
Old Town’s latest offering, though, has been stopping visitors in their tracks since it opened in January. It is called Le Tache, a “couples boutique,” more commonly known as a sex shop, which is sandwiched between art galleries whose offerings are more common in Old Town than colorfulvibrators and steamy DVDs. The boutique’s owner leased the building after a dispute between the property owner and the city.
The New York Times has the full story.
For more on when entrepreneurs butt heads with city planners, click here.
krishta of CA @ Oct 13, 2009 22:34:36 PM
Brandon of DC @ Jun 19, 2009 21:17:03 PM
Dan of VA @ Mar 23, 2009 15:13:38 PM