The Birmin twins can’t catch a break. In December Dan Birmin had to close his store located just outside Ruston, Louisiana as part of a plea bargain that kept him out of jail after he was convicted on obscenity charges, and yesterday a store that was being run by his twin brother Guy was burnt to the ground Thursday in a suspected arson case.
The second store, named The Pink Palace, sits just outside the town of Boligee, Alabama had opened in mid-January amidst protests from prominent citizens of Boligee including the District Attorney.
The store was closed just a few days later when it was discovered that The Pink Palace had failed to acquire a specialty license that county authorities claimed were required. The store had remained closed since January 21, while supposedly Guy Birmin was in the process of obtaining his necessary permit, supposedly meeting with the county commissioners on Feb. 9 to pay the $500 dollar fee required.
The county commissioners had vowed not to approve the permit, though it was admitted that it might have been possible that they would be required to.
The local DA had already suggested an obscenity prosecution would be taking place in the near future if The Pink Palace was granted a permit.
At 3a.m. on Feb. 5, The Pink Palace was reported as being on fire. When the local volunteer firefighter’s arrived on the scene the building was already engulfed in flame.
The building did not have sprinklers, as Greene County does not require them.
Greene County Sheriff Johnny Isaac told the Tuscaloosa News he was suspicious of the blaze.
“It just seems strange," he said. “It was closed and then burned. I’m not saying it’s arson yet, but I’m curious."
State arson investigators were sent to the store but it is not yet clear if they reached the store early enough – Greene County experienced a heavy rainfall yesterday.
Store manager Mark Ramsey told the Tuscaloosa News that he did not see the remains of a television set that was in the business office, and noted the power box had been tampered with.
Jesse C. Pendergrass, an adult retailer based in Nashville, Tennessee owned the actual land that the Pink Palace was located on, while Guy Birmin owned the actual store.
