Family-Friendly Sex Stores, Wha?

Is this a great ~~state~~ country or what?

Unlike the older sex shops, which are dark and dingy, the Babeland store has upbeat music, well-dressed saleswomen and infant changing tables -- marketing itself as a fun place for couples to shop. It's part of a growing trend that has been spreading from Louisville to Los Angeles in an attempt to take take the sleeze [sic] out of this part of the sex industry.
When asked for her opinion on the store’s location, Lisa — who declined to give her last name— didn’t know the store’s name or what it sold, but deposited her young son on the front stoop so she could take a quick peek inside. She declared it “tastefully done” when she came back out.
“I think the ladies are going to be pretty excited about it, and I’m sure there are some gentlemen who will be as well,” said Zukerman. [Heh.]
Amanda Asrelsky, an employee of the neighboring maternity-wear store Bump, said sex is a natural thing that should be fun. [Oh, it's that kind of neighborhood. Why didn't you just say so?]

Hat tip to Kevin, who said tongue-in-cheek, I think: "Sweet Jeepers! We Really Are Morally Bankrupt Aren't We?"

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 10:18 PM

Comments

1 I've been in Manhattan Babeland a few times and, really, it's not that great. Hell, I have two of the classic skeevy places that I drive past every day to work that have better prices and a far better selection. In theory. So I've been told.

I simply utilize the internet like normal pervs.

Posted by: alexthechick at June 15, 2008 10:24 PM (xdMzB)

2 I'll be in mmy bunk.

Posted by: butch at June 15, 2008 10:27 PM (UVQwz)

3 I'm all for taking some of the sleaze off the adult industry, but their line of "Hello Kitty" buttplugs is just plain creepy.

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at June 15, 2008 10:29 PM (BhHL1)

4 I like the maternity wear store being next door. I wonder how many of the Babeland customers connect the activities being promoted by the neighboring stores.

Re: price/selection, you pay a premium for the lack of sleaze. It's like the Saturn dealership of sex shops.

Posted by: Jake at June 15, 2008 10:41 PM (g/d7n)

5 That would take the fun out of ordering it online, praying that you get the mail delivery before anyone else does, and hoping that the packaging is discreet so your mailman doesn't start leering at you. Or so I've heard.

Posted by: Nurse Cheri at June 15, 2008 10:46 PM (cz6lG)

6 Anybody see Idiocracy? Every store offers sex in the future, finally.

And taking the sleaze out of the "adult" industry is like taking the Speed out of racing: it stops being the industry if its not sleazy, or rather it can't not be sleazy or it stops having the product it does.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 15, 2008 10:48 PM (0+Ggj)

7 I'm so glad this store isavailableto me now.It's such a hassle leavingmy fourkids for hoursin the closed up minivan in 100 degree heat while I go in the store to pick out my goods.
Course, I guess I could have ordered online like Nurse Cherie said, but I really like testing the products before I buy, you know?

Posted by: pajama momma at June 15, 2008 10:49 PM (f3xJa)

8 << Anybody see Idiocracy? >>

Yup. There's no way it will take 500 years for us to reach that point.

Posted by: Herr Blücher at June 15, 2008 11:24 PM (2CbvK)

9 PJ Mamma, make sure you roll the windows down a crack so they can breathe, okay? And a bowl of water might help.

Posted by: cranky-d at June 15, 2008 11:40 PM (Kj/hR)

10 I lived in the Slope for 5 years. It is that kinda neighbourhood. There is the hippy liberal mecca right there too called the co-op. Don't worry, I managed to find the sleazier non family friendly store a 10 minute walk away (right opposite a middle school) called the pink pussycat.

(1st post tho I've been reading AofSHQ 10 times a day for ages)

Posted by: Hush at June 16, 2008 12:05 AM (nyHOU)

11 People still go the adult stores? I thought everyone just downloaded porn while reading AoSHQ.

Posted by: XBradTC at June 16, 2008 12:15 AM (kddTy)

12 "Amanda Asrelsky, an employee of the neighboring maternity-wear store Bump, said sex is a natural thing that should be fun."
It's true sex is natural and should be fun, unfortunately all the fun was taken out whenstds took over.
Now, how am I as a stds-free woman suppose to have fun if everyone around me isjunked up on diseases they seem quite happy to spread around?
Warning to Big Applevisitors: if you screw a 20-something you're likely to be infected since they have been taught that the condom goes on a cucumber.

Posted by: syn at June 16, 2008 06:21 AM (Dx06M)

13 I've discovered that there is a double standard (in men's minds, anyway) when it comes to purchasing "marital aids" in a store versus online. If they had this store near me, I would probably be more likely to shop there than at Spencer's.

Posted by: Scoop11 at June 16, 2008 06:45 AM (AEmfc)

14 New York, LA, Seattle. Yeah.

Posted by: ronnie dobbs at June 16, 2008 09:07 AM (hmHqH)

15 Chris Taylor:

Idiocracy was hilarious.

And Justin Long was a great idiot.

Posted by: OregonMuse at June 16, 2008 11:08 AM (FO+YO)

16 In Philly, I spent one summer living next door to The Pleasure Chest and upstairs from a head shop(Wonderland). My friends' jokes about getting their shopping done while visiting me were really funny for the first month or two.

Posted by: MamaAJ at June 16, 2008 11:27 AM (X6Zdh)

17 I would have gone into The Pleasure Chest to look around, but one of my neighbors worked there and I thought it would be a bit embarrassing to walk in and have the clerk know my name.

Posted by: MamaAJ at June 16, 2008 11:31 AM (X6Zdh)

18 Yup. There's no way it will take 500 years for us to reach that point.

Yeah that was my reaction too. 50 maybe, not 500. I think he was trying to avoid being too insulting and make sure that nobody thought he was referring to anyone specific.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 16, 2008 12:18 PM (0+Ggj)

19 Thanks for the link Gabes... :-)

Posted by: KevinQC at June 17, 2008 01:29 AM (KsNhR)

20 Yup. There's no way it will take 500 years for us to reach that point.

You're right. It'll happen in about 5... 4... 3... something... something...

Posted by: Aaron at June 18, 2008 01:02 AM (lRuip)

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