Escondido

In the face of the likelihood that an adults-only bookstore was going to be opened on Grand Avenue downtown, the Escondido City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to ban such businesses along the street.

Based on a federal judge’s opinion that its law was overly restrictive, the city recently relaxed its ordinance concerning where adult businesses could locate. But the law allowed some parts of the downtown area to become sites of adult businesses.

The newest ordinance, an urgency measure that takes effect immediately, specifically prohibits adult businesses along Grand Avenue. Still, city officials note, there are nearly 50 other sites in the city where such businesses can operate.