Modest is hottest!
Sexy Wonders, the sex-toy and smoke shop that caused a community outcry when it opened down the street from a public library in Flatlands, just got a more demure make-over.
The racy shop windows that once featured photographs of scantily-clad women, water pipes, blindfolds, and bondage tape are now covered with posters that list innocuous descriptions of the shop’s items such as “romance enhancers” and “adult costumes” — and a statement of the store’s wholesome mission: “Sexy Wonders Keeping couples connected.”
The owners may even close the shop during the day to quell parents’ fear of kids wandering inside.
Local elected officials who pushed for the changes touted their modest achievement.
“We are pleased by the progress that has been made since our meeting, which resulted in the store covering their window displays with posters and reevaluating their hours of operation,” said councilmen Alan Maisel (D–Marine Park) and Jumaane Williams (D–Flatlands) in a joint statement. “Our primary concern … is for the constituents in our community to feel safe and comfortable in our neighborhoods.”
Because the sexy storefront on Avenue P and Flatbush Avenue is just up the block from the Flatlands branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, some parents called for it to be shuttered — but since the store is more than 500 feet away from the library, the location is perfectly legal.
A local community leader said residents should accept that they can’t close the shop, and appreciate the more decorous décor.
“If they cover the window, that will be as effective as we can be within the law,” said Bob Tracey, the President of the Marine Park Civic Association.
Maisel and Williams said they appreciated the shop’s willingness to alter its window display, and urged community members not hassle to the shop employees. The councilmen also said they are planning to meet with the owner again after the store experiments with new hours.
“Management showed sensitivity to this issue and followed through on their promise to cover the store window display,” they said. “We look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure the establishment is not met with counter-productive friction, and will follow up with management to discuss their updated hours once they have completed a trial period.”
