Garden Grove : Judge Refuses to Cut Adult Store’s Hours
An Orange County Superior Court judge on Friday refused to limit the operating hours of a 24-hour adult bookstore and video arcade that city officials say is a magnet for crime, noise and litter.
Judge John C. Wooley denied the city’s attempt to force A-Z Books on Garden Grove Boulevard to limit its hours to between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Wooley did grant City Atty. Stuart B. Scudder’s request that lacy curtains placed in peep-show booth doorways--allegedly in violation of a city ordinance--be removed. The judge gave A-Z operator W. Randall Welty until 4 p.m. Friday to do so.
In arguing for limiting the store’s hours, Scudder said A-Z is responsible for lewd conduct, automobile noise, discarded condoms and other problems reported by area residents.
Wooley said the city lacks the evidence to restrict the store’s hours but that the curtains are in violation of one of his previous orders that doors be removed from the booths.
A trial on alleged violations of the city’s peep show ordinance is set for April 9.
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