Lingerie store opening near Grandville High School draws mixed reaction after … – The Grand Rapids Press

Some Grandville parents are upset about a lingerie store that is opening near the high school along Wilson Avenue SW.Kyle Moroney | MLive.com 

GRANDVILLE, MI — Parents of Grandville High School students have mixed feelings about a lingerie shop opening in a strip mall near the campus, but the owner of Nice and Naughty defends any characterization of his business as a ‘porn’ store.

The store opening, planned by the end of the year at 4763 Wilson Ave. SW, comes after last week’s social media firestorm when pictures circulated of a Grandville student after she apparently performed a sex act as others watched.

Jenni Westra, who has a freshman son at the school, doesn’t like the store’s location.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate place for it. It’s too close to the school,” Westra said. “It’s the wrong image to portray, especially with the recent controversy.”

Related:

bullet; School officials: Viral photos of teens’ alleged sex act spurs talk of social media responsibility

bullet; Photos of Grandville teens in apparent sex act go viral; police investigating

Others, however, don’t have a problem with owner Amer Hakim’s plans, saying it is a store that teenagers are old enough to be exposed to even as they hope students will stay away from it.

“People should just get over it,” said high school parent Alesha Wind, who has a son in 10th grade.

City leaders say Hakim’s store adheres to all municipal regulations, including having an
inventory that is less than 40 percent sexually-oriented, said Assistant City Manager Matt Butts.

“We have a code of ordinance in place that regulates sexually-oriented businesses,” he said. “We reviewed the application and determined that it did not meet that threshold.”

The city approved Nice and Naughty’s business license on April 7.

Nice and Naughty will occupy the end retail space in a strip mall that includes a tanning, nail and spa and men’s hair salons, an eyeglass shop, and a video gaming and gold trading store. The 2,500-square-foot spot was the site of a restaurant, but it has been vacant for several years.

Hakim said his store is an “upscale lingerie” store that carries clothing, lotion, candles and bachelorette items. About 10 percent to 20 percent of the products sold will be adult novelty items, he said. Those materials will be on display in a separate room at the back of the building. Hakim does not plan to carry explicit magazines or DVDs at the Grandville location, he said.

“We’ve been portrayed as a porn shop – but we’re not,” Hakim said. “We are a lingerie store with some adult novelties.

“There is not one product in my store that isn’t in the mall across the street. We do not cater to high school kids. The reason we’re in Grandville is because it is the shopping hub on the west side of the state.”

Hakim, an attorney in Warren, opened his first Nice and Naughty store in Saginaw last June. He hopes to have five stores open in Michigan by 2015.

Hakim said company policy states that customers must be 18 years old to enter and employees are expected to card customers upon entering.

RiverTown Crossings Mall on Rivertown Parkway, which houses Victoria’s Secret and Spencer’s, is located less than a mile from the high school.

Grandville Public Schools Superintendent Ron Caniff said he has received several phone calls from parents concerned about the proximity of the business to the high school.

“Obviously, we prefer that they not locate there, and prefer another location for them to do their business,” he said. “But I understand that the business owner met that criteria therefore the city can’t deny the license.”

Principal Chris Vanderslice said the district realizes that the high school is in a retail area.

“Because of where we’re located, it’s hard for us to police what businesses are close to us,” he said.

School Board President Barb Palmer said she had not heard about the new store opening until Wednesday.

“If it’s just a lingerie store, then I do not have a concern,” she said. “If it’s x-rated, then I have a concern.”

Kyle Moroney covers suburban schools and general assignments for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email her at kmoroney@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter or Facebook

Share and Enjoy