Marietta City Council members will determine if an adult business can remain open under the city’s current zoning laws.
The city revoked Tokyo Valentino’s business license after ruling the store at 345 Cobb Parkway South is not authorized to sell 80 to 90% of its sexually oriented items due to its classification as a “general merchandise” establishment.
The city revoked the license on June 18, but the company quickly filed an appeal. The City Council will hear the case after its 7 p.m. Wednesday meeting at City Hall.
City Manager Bill Bruton previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that staff initiated an investigation into Tokyo Valentino's Marietta location, which has been open for four years. During two visits in May, Marietta officers purchased sex toys and adult videos, according to the case file released by the city.
They also took photographs of full frontal nudity on display inside the store, depictions of male and female genitalia and body parts, and “sex paraphernalia too extensive to summarize,” documents in the file note.
Tokyo Valentino CEO Michael Morrison contends his business does not fall into Marietta’s classification for adult entertainment businesses, which he says is centered around adult book and video stores.
Tokyo Valentino recently opened a new shop at 1290 Johnson Ferry Road in East Cobb, despite community backlash over its proximity to an elementary school and church.
Residents can watch a live stream of the meeting on the city's website.
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