BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo News reports that Family Video Movie Club plans to open its first store in Buffalo. Family Video is the nation's third-largest video rental chain, but Buffalo city officials want assurances that the store will not offer X-rated movies in the Buffalo location as it does at many of its outlets.
Family Video is based in Illinois and operates 10 stores in Western New York, including three in suburban Buffalo.
Family Video is seeking a building permit to construct a new store at 1500 Hertel Ave., the former location of Martino's Television.
Richard Tobe, the city's development, permits and inspections chief told the News, "We're going to make an inquiry about store content. The site they've selected is not zoned for adult businesses, so they can't carry X-rated videos and would not have the option of applying for an adult use license."
Family Video, with its G-rated name, has surprised some with its adult section. As recently as last month, city officials in Auburn, New York, went to court to stop Family Video from offering adult videos in its Auburn location. The Auburn case is scheduled to be in court in mid-April.
Typically, in the Family Video stores that carry adult material, the X-rated titles are located in a separate room off the main sales floor, behind a closed door indicating customers must be 18 years of age to enter.
Tobe noted that the construction plans for the new store filed with his office appear to include a small area meeting that description. Tobe told the News, "There seems to be a separate retail area, and we'll be asking about that."
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