Adult-themed store in East Grand Forks wins one round in court

EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. -- An adult-themed store has re-opened in East Grand Forks after a federal judge in Minneapolis filed a preliminary injunction giving it the right to do so in spite of the city's opposition.

Fantasy's still has to win a lawsuit to stay open permanently in a commercial zone.

The city claims the business should be classified as "adult use" and may only open in an industrial zone.

East Grand Forks City Administrator Scott Huizenga maintains the city's stance that Fantasy's should not be in a commercial zone. East Grand Forks city code says adult-themed bookstores, arcades, video stores, cabarets and parlors are among those that don't qualify for commercial zones.

"What's on the books is what we stand by," Huizenga said.

Fantasy's, which has a location in Fargo, attempted to open in East Grand Forks in May after the Grand Forks City Council in April pushed the store out of a location near an elementary school with an ordinance restricting where an adult-themed businesses can operate.