It has been

a long time coming, but New York Video is finally a chapter in the history

books of Union City.

Located on

one of the main entrances to Shannon Southpark Mall, off Jonesboro Road,

the X-rated video store opened its door in late 1997 in the midst of strong

opposition from the community.

The store,

which sold sex toys, adult videos, lingerie, magazines and gifts, came

in as the Union City Council was in the process of finalizing a stronger

ordinance to regulate adult entertainment businesses.

Union City

Mayor Ralph Moore said the video store met all the criteria of the code

in place at the time, and the City Council "had no choice but to

issue a license."

Citizens from

Union City and the surrounding areas immediately organized the Concerned

Citizens of South Fulton to battle the opening of the store.

The group picketed

the store garnering media attention throughout the Atlanta region. Mayor

Moore joined protestors in picketing the site.

Michael Morrison,

CEO of Focus Entertainment, has been in and out of court continually from

the time it first became public knowledge that he intended to locate the

store in the area.

One week prior

to the store's opening it received an eviction notice from the landlord,

Payless Shoe Source. Payless claimed the video store did not disclose

its true type of business on the lease, misrepresenting itself.

Morrison responded

Moore said

over 100 citations for violations of code have been issued during the

time the store was in operation. The city currently has a lawsuit pending

against the company.

Moore was pleased

to announce the closing of the adult store at the last City Council meeting.

He recapped what had transpired since the store moved to the area, stating

the city had a strong "adult entertainment ordinance in place now."

Saying some in the community, and on the City Council, had wanted to "go

over and lock the doors," he noted the action would not have held

up under the law.

Referring to

the numerous citations and legal cases surrounding the triple-X store,

he said they "followed the letter of the law," went through

the proper legal channels, and New York Video was finally gone.

The ongoing

litigation to evict the adult store ended a few weeks ago, with Payless

winning in the State Court of Appeals. Payless immediately began the eviction

process, but Morrison chose to immediately vacate rather than be evicted.

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