After almost 30 years as an exclusive West Coast retail, wholesale and mail order company, the company will open its doors on Jan. 20 in the Coolidge Corner area of Brookline, a community adjacent to Boston.
"We have been exploring an East Coast expansion strategy for several months and feel that the greater Boston area is the best selection for our first step in our overall expansion plans," Theresa Sparks, general manager of Good Vibrations, said.
"Good Vibrations was founded on the premise of providing up-to-date sexual education to all who sought it and naturally we have worked in partnership with all the Bay Area colleges and universities,” Sparks added. “Partnering with and serving the 45 plus Boston area colleges and universities is a natural next step for us.”
According to the Census Bureau, there are currently more than 400,000 college students in the greater Boston area, which means about one out of every eight U.S. college students reside in the vicinity.
The first Good Vibrations store opened in San Francisco during 1977. Through word of mouth, the store flourished and a second store was opened in Berkeley during 1994. A third store was opened in another San Francisco location during 2003.
The company was one of the first in the adult industry to employ a doctor of human sexuality as a company affiliate. Carol Queen, who has a PhD, has been with Good Vibrations for 16 years as the staff sexologist. She has been the company's spokesperson for sex education since 1992 and has spoken at many colleges and universities in western Massachusetts, as well as Yale.
"Our new store will offer the same educational outreach programs that Good Vibrations has always offered since the first store was opened," Queen said. "I'm thrilled that we have finalized our new location and will be able to open before Valentine's Day."
The new Good Vibrations store will replace Grand Opening!, a sex toy emporium owned by Kim Airs. The shop has been located in Coolidge Corner for 12 years.
Additionally, Airs said she will teach classes at Good Vibrations, including the famous “You Oughta Be in Pictures” amateur adult video show.
"I’m really excited about it," Airs said, who apprenticed at Good Vibrations before opening her own stores. "I'll get to do the things I love the most, which is teach and promotions and speak at colleges."
Since July, Good Vibrations has been in the process of revamping its image, including sex toy packaging, its stores, signage and products. In September, the company also relaunched its website, enabling Good Vibrations to manage an affiliate program and create link exchanges for webmasters.
