Sex Shop Feud Comes To A Head At Clinton Hill Protest

BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn sex shop has aroused a testy debate that finally erupted into protests on the streets of Clinton Hill Friday morning.

Dozens of hot and bothered locals rallied outside Romantic Depot — a purveyor of sex toys and cheeky novelties on the corner of Fulton Street and Washington Avenue — at about 10 a.m. to take a stand against the stop.

"It's an insult to the churches and the schools that it's near and we feel betrayed by the law," said local Schellie Hagan.

"The in-your-face quality of the store is out of synch with the village-like atmosphere of Clinton Hill."

Protesters were met by Romantic Depot's supporters, who turned out to a counter protest in droves, saying that the shop is a place for consenting adults to learn about sex and self pleasure.

"We're trying to teach that sex is about pleasure," said Marianna Kortright, a longtime Romantic Depot worker. "And when you're old enough, we're willing to help you learn what you need."

Kortright noted protections are in place to ensure kids aren't exposed to the sex toys, lingerie and cheeky party supplies within.

Workers ID check at the front door and the store's exterior windows (which are darkened to obfuscate what's inside) don't feature explicit imagery, Kortright said.

"We're not trying to expose anything harsh to children, even though kids have easy access to most stuff nowadays online," Kortright said. "We want to show people that we are here as a friendly neighborhood business."

But local Madaline Mckay said she worried the shop would pique the interest of children at a nearby middle school (a concern reiterated by many on social media) and would have preferred to see a community resource — like a bookstore, shelter, or senior center — open on the corner.

Romantic Depot doesn't fall under city zoning laws for adult establishments because it doesn't sell explicit viewing material or have nude dancing.

That hasn't stopped locals (who say the business is utilizing a legal loophole) from filing an onslaught of 311 complaints that reportedly spurred the Department of Buildings to send agency inspectors in response.

The agency did not respond to Patch's request for comment about the inspection. Requests for comment to Council Member Crystal Hudson, and the local business improvement district, also went unanswered.

A petition to relocate the store has garnered 150 signatures from neighbors, many of whom showed up at a police precinct meeting this week to protest its location, the Brooklyn Paper reported.

On Friday, protester and Brooklyn community leader Chris Banks said he wished Romantic Depot tried to connect with local residents before opening — a standard he sets for all new businesses, especially those opening in communities of color.

"Throughout New York City you have these businesses that are popping up in our communities without any type of notification for the folks who have invested so much into these areas and been living here for so many years," Banks said.

"Have some respect for the community, do some outreach, that's what it's about."

Several protestors said they agreed with Banks, claiming that most of the people who support Romantic Depot don't even live in the neighborhood, but Jeanette Covollo, a local parent, pushed back against that idea.

"Children shouldn't go in there, but I'd rather them know about sex than not," she said.

Covollo came to Friday's protest with her young daughter, to whom she simply described Romantic Depot as a "store for grown ups."

Related Article: Sex Shop In Clinton Hill Gets Neighbors Hot and Bothered