X-Mart Coming To A Neighborhood Near You?

Augusta, GA—It’s been no spot for the X-Mart. For the better part of seven years, Augusta lawyers have kept the adult video store from operating at the corner of Gordon Highway and Molly Pond Road. But, it’s not because this type of adult business is illegal.

“The city has an ordinance that does provide regulations for adult entertainment type businesses and they are allowed,” says Rob Sherman Director of Augusta’s License and Inspections Department.

Sherman says the business would be heavily regulated, and could only locate in heavy and light industrial zones.

“There are certain areas where they would not be in compliance with the zoning regulations but there are a lot of areas where they could potentially go,” says Sherman.

This concerns some Augusta Commissioners, who are growing worried the city could eventually lose the long running court battle.

“It is legal,” Commissioner Joe Jackson said earlier this month, adding there’s about 200 locations the store could operate.

The city Planning Department has looked into this and prepared maps indicating locations where a store like the X-Mart could go.

“We found about 15 broad areas that we’re eligible for rezoning, and within those broad areas, numerous sites in each of them potentially available for rezoning for an adult entertainment store,” said Planning Director George Patty.

Some of those broad areas include near I-20, and Riverwatch Parkway, a couple of sites out by Augusta Regional Airport, and a site near Gordon Highway and Jimmy Dyess Parkway.

The X- Mart is not open now because city lawyers have been able to out maneuver store attorneys, but another time and another site it could be a totally different story.

“It could, if it met the zoning requirements and the Adult Entertainment Ordinance and the Commission approved, it they could go in Augusta,” says Sherman.