A controversial sex shop could be coming to the heart of East Cobb, and neighbors in the community are not happy.
A building on Johnson Ferry Road is going through renovation. Records show the owner of Tokyo Valentino is tied to the business.
More than 1,200 people have signed a petition opposing the store.
“This is not good. He’s not welcome. We do not want to welcome him here,” said Dee Thomas, a grandmother of three who has lived in East Cobb for 30 years.
“It is as bad as the coronavirus. It would spread. And it would be bad."
Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose looked into the concerns brought up by Thomas and others in the community.
According to a Cobb County new business listing, a license was issued in March for 1290 Clothing LLC. A document from the secretary of state’s office shows 1290 Clothing registered as a corporation in January.
The registered agent is listed as the same person for Cheshire Bridge, Holdings LLC, which is the parent company of Tokyo Valentino.
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The adult store has several metro Atlanta locations, including one on Cobb Parkway South in Marietta. It also has a history of disputes in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Duluth and now East Cobb.
“This family community is not the place for an establishment like this,” mother Lisa Simms said. “This guy definitely appears to be a master of loopholes and zoning.”
Simms is concerned because the building is near shopping centers, family-friendly restaurants, schools and churches.
“They (families) will go back and forth by this store multiple times a day, going to school to church,” she said.
Jose sent an email Tuesday morning to the Tokyo Valentino’s owner and his partners. When he called the Atlanta store, a manager told Jose he didn’t have his bosses’ contact information.
He is still waiting for a response.
A handful of people voiced their concerns to the county commission.
In a newsletter, Commissioner Bob Ott said the business meets all code requirements and they are not required to come before the board of commissioners.
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