Adult novelty store sparks concerns with Conroe officials

The city of Conroe released a permit for the remodel of a former Mattress Firm building for Cindie's, an adult novelty store, after the city pulled the permit over concerns of it location and merchandise. The city of Conroe released a permit for the remodel of a former Mattress Firm building for Cindie's, an adult novelty store, after the city pulled the permit over concerns of it location and merchandise. Photo: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Adult novelty store sparks concerns with Conroe officials 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Conroe Mayor Toby Powell and Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon are standing firm after the pair stopped a remodeling project for a new location of an adult novelty store by agreeing they did not want the business within city limits.

Contractor Bobby Bowen, with Horizons Custom Homes Renovation, was issued a permit July 5 to remodel the 5,120-square-foot building at Interstate 45 and Texas 105 for Houston-based Cindie’s. However, he was forced to stop his work when the council learned of the project and put the permit on hold.

Coon and Powell say there are several concerns about the store including its location near a city park and family restaurants as well as the interpretation of what items sold in the store are used for sexual gratification.

“I’m not going to waiver on this,” Coon said. “It is not in the best interest of the community to allow Cindie’s to be here. I fully support the pulling of the permit.”

City officials issued the permit after representatives of Cindie’s provided a list of retail items planned for the store, noting only a small part of the store’s products could be used for sexual gratification.

City Administrator Paul Virgadamo said city administration received an email after the permit was issued regarding the items the store would offer, prompting Powell and Coon to pull the remodel permit.

“In an email, they listed some information that gave us concern that might lean this thing toward a sexually oriented business,” Virgadamo said.

Bowen said he was issued a stop work order but was not provided a reason why.

“I have thousand and thousands of dollars invested in this thing,” he said noting his crews have gutted the building. “They really screwed us. There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy going on in the city.”

The city has a sexually oriented business ordinance with an extensive list of requirements and a permit process.

In fact, the Conroe council updated the ordinance late last year after the Houston City Council members updated its rules on sexually oriented businesses, instituting changes that would bar plans for a store that allows customers to try out sex dolls on the premises from opening near the Galleria. Both city and county officials strengthened their respective ordinances as a pre-emptive strike to avoid similar business locating in Montgomery County.

Founded in 1994, Cindie’s offers lingerie, toys and other adult novelty gifts. The company has locations in Texas, Louisiana, Oregon and Alaska.

Powell said for him, the issue is about morality.

“What do we want the city to be,” Powell said noting he would like to see other similar business moved out of the city. “I don’t think this is a moral business that should be at our gateway of Conroe, Texas.”

Coons said city officials are meeting with representatives of Cindie’s on Monday to discuss the future of the store. Greg Gant with Cindie’s declined to comment on the issue until after the meeting with the city.

“I don’t get a vote, but I stand firm in my conviction that I don’t want them to have a permit until this is resolved,” Powell said.

In light of the issues with Cindie’s, Virgadamo said the council will likely revisit its ordinance regulating sexually oriented business.

Coon said the city follows the state regulations on sexually oriented businesses but questioned its effectiveness.

“But I think it is too loosely drafted and I think there is too much room for interpretation,” he said. “These businesses maneuver around the fringes of what a sexually oriented business is.”

cdominguez@hcnonline.com