Cherry Hill Officials Vow to Take Adult Store to Court

City officials said this week they will take proponents of an adult novelty store to court to keep it from opening.

Mayor Bernie Platt said the city will use every legal tool at its disposal to keep the business out of Cherry Hill.

At issue is a proposal by property owner Jim Restaino who plans to establish an adult novelty store in a vacant building at Route 70 and Kenwood Drive, KYW Newsradio reported. Restaino said the store would sell adult magazines and videos, lubricants, vibrators, sex fantasy costumes and other items.

Restaino had sued the city in March 2005 after it tried to stop him from opening his proposed store. He claimed the city was violating his right to free speech by attempting to stop him from opening his business.

But earlier this month, residents began protesting the City Council after a rumor circulated that the city had reached a settlement with Restaino, allowing him to open the store.

But Platt denied any deal had been made during an anti-porn rally in a parking lot and vowed instead to square off with store proponents in court.

Restaino, who also owns an adult video store in nearby Mount Laurel, nor his attorney Dennis Oury could be reached for comment.

Residents, meanwhile, said they planned to start a petition campaign and photograph patrons should the store open.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the council also approved a plan to determine whether the proposed adult store site is part of a segment of Route 70 that is part of a redevelopment zone which would give the city more leverage in its argument against the store plan.