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Shop for adults not welcome

Chelsea White

06Oct07

A BID to turn Manly's laneways and arcades into community-friendly cosmopolitan centres could be dealt a blow with a chain of adult stores planning to move into town.

Everything Adult wants to open in Roycroft Arcade next door to a children's clothing shop and in view of the mayor's office, the library and the 145-year-old Manly Congregational Church.

And it's just 100m from an adult store already operating in the Park Lane arcade.

The store submitted its initial plans this week to Manly Council for signage and renovations to the former 150sq m beautician's studio.

It wants four yellow signs with multi-coloured lettering, with the biggest facing the library and mayor's office. All its windows will also be painted bright yellow.

The restricted premises will operate at least 12 hours per day from 9am to 9pm Sunday to Wednesday and until 10pm Thursday to Saturday.

There are 11 Everything Adult stores in Sydney, including one in Brookvale.

Manly Mayor Peter Macdonald yesterday issued a strong message to the adult shop - it is not welcome.

``My personal view is that it is quite inappropriate for Manly. We do not need a seedy shop like that here,'' he said.

Cr Macdonald said the situation was made worse due to its close proximity to a children's shop.

``It's not wanted in Manly.''

Cr Macdonald has also vowed to make sure the application is brought before the elected council so councillors can react on behalf of the community.

Nearby business owners also told The Manly Daily they do not want a late-night adult store operating above them.

Owen McGill, who has run his shoe repair business from the arcade for 36 years, said it was not something he wanted two doors down.

``You'll get the deviants coming and we have got enough now,'' he said.

Bill Sivyer who has recently opened Property Management Services in the arcade was also worried about the sort of people Everything Adult would attract.

``One adult shop (Good Vibrations) in Manly is more than sufficient,'' he said.

``It would not be good for business in terms of security.''

Mr Sivyer said the arcade had just overcome the problem of people hanging around at night and worried this would happen again if the adult store opened.

Aris Athans, owner of the proposed Everything Adult store, refuted claims his business would attract the wrong people to the area, arguing that people from all walks of life shopped in stores like his.

``It is not a brothel,'' Mr Athans said. ``The sex industry is much more open these days.

``The everyday person comes in - your mum, your dad, labour workers, politicians and your local policeman. It is just a shop for adults to spice up their sex lives.''

A social and environmental study commissioned by Mr Athans also rejects the idea the store will pose a security risk.

Mr Athans said his store would bring more business to the area.

``If anything, it is positive,'' he said.

``You get more people coming to where the shops are - it is a domino effect for everyone.''

The proposal is in the public submission phase and is awaiting assessment. Manly's development controls have no policy for restricting adult entertainment.

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