Adult Store Gets a Stay on New Regulations

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A 33-year-old adult store has been granted a stay of enforcement of a new city ordinance by the Scottsdale City Council.

The store, Zorba’s Adult Shop, was in violation of a new regulation passed last year, which requires adult stores to have an unobstructed view of the entire interior of the building. Zorba’s contains private video booths, but the council’s legal department has warned against enforcing the new ordinance, due to a lawsuit settlement between the store and Scottsdale in 1995.

The council announced it won’t enforce the ordinance before digesting the confidential memo from its legal department and, at the request of Councilman Tony Nelssen, tentatively scheduled a Jan. 30 public meeting to discuss the matter.

“We’re trying to find an area of agreement before enforcing new regulations,” Mayor Mary Manross said in a press conference.

The new regulations, adopted last December, included a provision that would have forced Zorba’s to remodel extensively or shut down the adult video facilities portion of its business. But most of the new regulations against sexually oriented businesses were overturned by Scottsdale voters in the September 2006 primary election. However, regulations pertaining to the video facilities were not included on the ballot, which created the conflict with the court settlement between Zorba’s and Scottsdale.

“It does conflict, but the issue comes down to how enforceable is the settlement agreement,” Councilman Jim Lane said.

City Attorney Deborah Robberson told the Scottsdale Tribune that she knew Zorba’s had sued the city and that there had been a settlement, but that she was not familiar with the details of the settlement, which “wasn’t seemingly relevant.” Robberson added that the two sides are talking, and neither has decided to challenge the other in court.

The council had claimed that Zorba’s was originally targeted due to a private investigator’s report last year that he’d found physical evidence of sexual acts taking place in the booths.

Neither Zorba’s owner, Merlyn Albright, nor his Los Angeles-based attorney John Weston were available for comment at post time.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

B-Vibe Spotlighted on Reviewed.com

B-Vibe has been featured in a Reviewed.com round-up of top-rated anal toys by writer Ryan Yates.

Orion Debuts New Style From Cottelli Lingerie

Orion Wholesale has added a new style from its Cottelli lingerie line.

The Cowgirl Debuts 'Saddle' Sex Machine

Cowgirl has introduced its new Saddle sex machine with attachments.

XR Brands Releases 'Jock Enhancers' Collection

XR Brands has introduced its new Jock Enhancers line.

Blush Introduces 'Golden Dawn' Dildo From Avant Line

Blush has debuted the Golden Dawn dildo from its Avant Collection.

Orion Debuts 'Nodding Head' Vibe From Sweet Smile Line

Orion Wholesale has introduced the Vibrator With a Nodding Head from its Sweet Smile line.

Full Circle Debuts New 'Cleo Feather' Vibe

Pleasure brand Full Circle has introduced its new Cleo Feather Tickler vibrator.

Pjur Launches 'Toy' Line in North America

Pjur has announced its Toy series of wellness products will be available for purchase in the U.S. starting in September.

Orion Expands Cottelli 'Costumes' Line

Orion Wholesale has introduced two new outfits from its Cottelli Costumes line.

Harry Styles' Lifestyle Brand Enters Sexual Wellness Space With 'Pleasing Yourself' Vibe, Lube

Pleasing, the lifestyle brand founded by Harry Styles, has launched its first sexual wellness product line, Pleasing Yourself, featuring a double-sided vibrator and a silicone lubricant.

Show More