BUFFALO, N.Y.—City inspectors and police officers closed a section of an adult bookstore in Buffalo Monday, citing building code violations and other problems, according to a report in the Buffalo News.
The Great American News Co., located in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood, was forced to close two small theaters and a portion of its video arcade, according to one of the store's attorneys. Officials said those areas of the store lacked proper entrances, smoke detectors and a permit for public assembly.
“There are building and fire code violations that we think are life and safety issues,” Patrick Sole Jr., Buffalo’s director of permits and inspections, told the News.
The front part of the business, where magazines and books are sold, remains open, according to the newspaper.
"They did temporarily close down one of the viewing areas and a back area for alleged code violations," said Barry Covert of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, which has represented the store for a number of years. "We're going to work our way through that with the city, but we've very happy that we were able to keep open most of the business in the meantime."
"They have closed down one section of the arcades, but not the other two," he elaborated. "There are actually three viewing areas and a couple of small theater areas, and two of the viewing areas do remain open along with the store."
"The city has been very fair," Covert noted. "The majority of the establishment has remained open, and we'll work with the city on the rest."
“We’re going to address everything,” affirmed attorney Michael Deal, also of the Lipsitz Green firm. “We intend on working in cooperation with the permitting people.”
The story said that in 2006 an inspection uncovered some of the same problems at the store.
"There have been some code violations," Covert admitted, "but we maintain a very good relationship with the city and we'll work with them. We've worked with them in the past and we'll work with them now."
He noted that the city has never had problems with the store over its content.
