According to Jimmy Flynt II, brother of Larry, who has headed the nationwide and international rollout of Hustler store locations, the New Orleans location has its own unique concept and style.
"There is truly nothing like it in the world," Jimmy Flynt told XBiz. "That's what you get when you combine one of the hottest retail stores with one of the most electrifying cities in the world. What you see in these stores is Larry Flynt's vision all the way."
Larry Flynt is expected to be one of the guests making an appearance at the store's grand opening in New Orleans' French Quarter. An after-party is scheduled at the location from 9 p.m. until late into the night.
The rollout of Hustler-branded retail outlets have met with moderate levels of controversy in various parts of the country, including an eight-month-long legal wrangle with lawmakers in Kentucky after city officials claimed Jimmy Flynt was violating a Lexington zoning ordinance that prohibits adult-oriented businesses near interstate highway interchanges.
Lawmakers in Kentucky began drafting legislation in February when word of the Hustler store's launch became official. Plans to open the retail store were quickly sidetracked when the Urban City Council swiftly approved a moratorium that would permanently prohibit any new adult stores from opening along interstates.
Jimmy Flynt filed a federal lawsuit against Lexington on July 23, alleging that the city violated his constitutional rights by passing the ordinance in the first place.
According to Jimmy Flynt, those problems have since been ironed out and the Lexington store is now more popular than other stores in the area, including a newly opened Whole Foods.
"Lexington realizes now what we're about and we've been accepted with an incredible reception," Jimmy Flynt said. "The store is doing fantastic and everyone is enjoying it."
Hustler Hollywood stores have so far opened in Hollywood, San Diego, Cincinnati and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with eventual plans to open in every major city in the U.S.
The Hollywood Hustler store concept was originally created by Larry Flynt's daughter, Theresa Flynt-Gaerke, as a way of "upscaling" the sales and marketing of adult products.
This week's store opening in New Orleans comes on the heels of a Hustler Hollywood store launch in Birmingham, England. The store, which opened with much celebrity fanfare, is considered the largest sex toy outlet in the entire United Kingdom. The store occupies a 6,000 square-foot space and features Hustler-branded clothing, sex toys, videos and novelty items.
Jimmy Flynt currently has plans to open an estimated 10 additional Hustler stores throughout the U.K. by 2012, including a possible location in Germany.
"We are definitely a global brand and we plan to rollout throughout the world," said Jimmy Flynt.
