MADISON, Ind. - A Madison County adult shop will close, having been told its location violates a city ordinance.
Needful Things Boutique falls under the ordinance's definition of an "adult bookstore, adult novelty store or adult video store" and is one of 10 types of businesses regulated by the ordinance.
Mayor Tim Armstrong said Needful
Things is "sexually oriented and it doesn't belong there." He said a
building inspector, the police chief and the assistant police chief visited
Needful Things and determined that it is a sexually oriented business.
The audience of about 35 applauded Armstrong twice while he talked about
shutting the business down.
Such businesses are not allowed within 5,000 feet of city parks, schools, churches or residential areas. Needful Things is across the street from residences, and there are several neighborhoods within 5,000 feet of the store.
The city has had an ordinance regulating sexually oriented businesses since
1998.
Armstrong, who took office in January, disclosed the pending action against
Needful Things when talking about goals for Madison, including beautifying the entrances
into the city.
"We need to have a little more teeth in some of our ordinances," he said.
"If we're not going to clean our own mess up, who is going to do it? The
laws and ordinances are going to be enforced."
