Some freaks do come out during the daytime...
Posted on 08/23/2009 8:33:32 PM PDT by Coleus
Montclair might be one of New Jersey's more progressive communities, but even in a town known for its tolerance, a working fetish "dungeon" -- complete with a spanking bench, "interrogation cell" and stocks -- doesn't belong on the busy downtown strip. So says the township attorney in a decision that has bitterly disappointed Ed and Karen Dougherty, aka "Master Ed" and "slave Duchess," the owners of Dressing for Pleasure, a Bloomfield Avenue shop that sells fetish clothing and tools of the bondage-and-discipline trade, from flogs and paddles to masks and spiked collars.
For years, the couple hosted discreet "play parties" as often as three times a month in the store's basement dungeon, where adventurous couples acted out their master-slave fantasies on the rack, the bondage horse and the St. Andrew's Cross. Montclair code officials shut down the 2,000-square-foot space after an anonymous complaint in June. The Doughertys sought new permits to reopen the basement for "amateur theatrical and historic reenactment." Their answer came Friday, courtesy of township attorney Alan Trembulak, who ruled the dungeon must remain shuttered.
The decision prompted the Doughertys and their supporters to stage a rally Monday in the parking lot of the Montclair municipal building, while a Planning Board meeting went on inside. About 20 people showed up, some holding picket signs and others wearing leather and latex outfits, high-heeled wedge boots, collars and black-and-white striped stockings. One poster read: "End the hostility and prejudice against kinky people in law, in politics and in society."
Karen Dougherty, 30, called the basement facility a safe, out-of-the-way place for people to act out their fantasies.
"Because people don't have dungeon facilities in their house, they would use our facility to tie each other up," she said. "What we have is completely hidden underground. Nobody ever sees it."
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Meanwhile, the same people are trying to shut down Gitmo.
New money. Go figure.
Meanwhile, real criminals continue to operate unabated. Glad to see NJ has its priorities straight.
There's something really hilarious about that irony.
Remind me to stay far away form Montclair.
No problem. Patrons of the shop need only drive a few miles further along South Orange Ave. and then ask if they can get some crack. The police or the gang members will gladly punish them.
Stay away from Montclair.
I’m sure the New Jersey town’s politicians wrestled hard with their consciences (and made sure there was no videotape of their escapades) before they reluctantly decided to shut down this typical Democrat place of business.
...
Karen and Ed Dougherty, 50, deny sexual contact was ever allowed or took place in the three years the downstairs club has existed. Up to 700 people have registered as members, and they were all screened through personal interviews or had someone vouch for them. Anyone who thought it was a swinger’s club was shown the door, Ed Dougherty said.
Shortly after receiving the e-mail, Montclair’s code enforcement, building and fire departments inspected the shop at 220 Bloomfield Ave., told the owners they did not have the required permits for the space and shut it down. In their applications for new permits, the Doughertys vowed no sex acts or sexually explicit behavior would be permitted.
The promises didn’t move Trembulak.
“They basically argued that this is a commercial recreation facility, and we disagree,” he said. “I’m not sure what I would term it, but we’ve only looked at this to make a decision to see whether it falls within the parameters of what uses are permitted in this zoning district.”
...
It’s a “progressive” area.
I remain unimpressed.
Hmmmmmm. I wonder if some of their ‘customer base’ comes from PMSNBC?
It’s probably where Demoncrats hold their political meetings and bill tazpayers for their membership dues.
there is a great theater there, however.
Enjoy!
;)
Great. So instead of being out in the open in a safe building, it’ll be moved to Craigslist and these parties will be held in where people will end up dead.
...”doesn’t belong”. Who made this desision? A PHOOKIN Mount Clair, NJ CZAR? Ohhh, no law against it! We just do it ‘cause, you can’t stop us!!!
...The drug Czar says, I can manufacture, sell, ingest, distribute, any drugs from the WH, because I’m above the law, no oversight, I answer to no one, and you can’t stop me, because we have all the guns! And they’re bigger than your guns! Don’t like it? Tough sh!t! Ohhhh, don’t try this at home, we have different standards than you peon citizens!!!
” Meanwhile, real criminals continue to operate unabated. Glad to see NJ has its priorities straight. “
I’m with you . Sounds like the owners had everything well under control not hurting anybody ( but themselves , willingly ) . What’s the problem , right ?
Unfortunately live in next town over....
Montclair aka Berkeley East has the same collection of
liberal whackjobs as San Fran
I think I agree with you.
So long as no laws are broken and all taxes are paid, why should the City care what goes on in that establishment? If liberals what to pay people to spank them, or if they want to tie each other up, or whatever floats their boat, so long as no laws are being broken who cares?
Has anyone checked to see if your president hasn’t set up a bondage dungeon under the Whitehouse?
Barney Frank should give them a lesson on how to profit from this kind of business.
...Check to see if the bondage dungeon czar has been appointed. Keyword, first lady???
Some freaks do come out during the daytime...
Thirty years ago I used to live in Upper Montclair and while there might have been some kinky people there, they kept their activities in their basements.
But now on Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair’s main street, ecchh!
from the store’s web site:
“We aren’t just a store – we’re a central part of the BDSM/alternative lifestyle.”
I need to move out of here!
I guess they will have a “going out of business sale” that can’t be beat.
parsy, who thinks about economics
While it was a beautiful town back then and I assume still so, leave while you still can.
And thanks to you and your family, both sides, for their service. Your dad must have had some very interesting times as a “China Marine”.
********************
No problem.
Stay away from Montclair. Stay away from my town as well.
LMAO!
BTW, I always feel a little weird posting to you. LOL
There's a government subsidy in that sentence crying to be let out.
Okay, where’s McGreevey going to get his stuff now?
That is kind of kinky isn’t it? Maybe there’s a future for us in the fetish industry after all.
LMAO But it would have to be retro, like burlesque or fan dancing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.