The owner of a lingerie and novelty shop vowed last week to remain on Cortez Road despite opposition from her landlord and Cortezians, code enforcement complaints and her husband’s statement that they’re leaving.
“I ain’t moving,” said Debbie Sumner, who owns the retail shop at 12207 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Signs on the exterior of the shop advertise novelties, adult fun, lingerie, romantic gifts and videos.
Roy Sumner also operates a golf cart sales and repair business at the location.
Earlier this month, Roy Sumner told The Islander that the couple would be relocating operations because of complaints from neighbors and their landlord, Lou Nassar, who also owns the building next door and initiated eviction proceedings against the Sumners.
But last week, Debbie Sumner said she planned to stay.
“It’s going to be a doggone fight,” she said. “He told us we can move in there.… I’m going to stay here until I have to move.”
Roy Sumner also said his wife would not open the retail shop, but Debbie Sumner said the shop already is open and isn’t closing.
If that’s the case, Manatee County will be investigating to determine whether the shop is a sexually oriented business and, if so, whether it complies with the county’s SOB and land-use regulations, said Joe Fenton of the code enforcement division.
“I’ll be sending an officer back out to the address,” he said.
Fenton said the code enforcement department already has issued notices of violations at the site, including for unpermitted work and golf carts positioned in the right of way.
“We’re looking into whether they are living there,” he added.
It the code enforcement notices are challenged, Fenton said the process first involves a review by a special magistrate and then, if the challenge goes forward, a hearing before the county code enforcement board.