Houston may move to block ‘robot brothel’
Council may consider redefining city rules on adult businesses
Mayor Sylvester Turner will ask the City Council this week to change Houston's rules on sexually oriented businesses, a change that could prevent a so-called robot brothel from opening near the Galleria.
“I stand ready to work with (Turner), city departments and District J citizens to stop this unwanted business.
Councilman Mike Laster
Mayor Sylvester Turner will ask City Council this week to change Houston’s rules on sexually oriented businesses, a change that could prevent a so-called robot brothel from opening near the Galleria.
Toronto-based KinkySdollS had announced plans to open a Houston branch where “adult love dolls” constructed of synthetic skin and highly articulated skeletons would be available “to rent before you buy.”
City inspectors, however, have stopped work at the company’s chosen storefront at Richmond and Chimney Rock, saying a renovation job had begun there without proper permits.
If the council agrees to bring such a shop under its sexually oriented business regulations this week, the business could be prevented from opening at that location entirely.
Traditional sexually oriented businesses, such as strip clubs, long have been prevented from operating within 1,500 feet of churches, schools, day cares, parks and residential neighborhoods. The city-owned Anderson Park is just a few hundred feet from KinkySdollS’ proposed storefront.
“I stand ready to work with (Turner), city departments and District J citizens to stop this unwanted business,” district Councilman Mike Laster tweeted. “District J deserves better.”
The portion of the ordinance Turner wants to revise addresses “adult arcades,” where customers view adult content using an “arcade device.”
The council would amend the definition of an “arcade device” to include not just machines displaying video but also “anthropomorphic devices or objects” and would prohibit “entertainment with one or more persons using an arcade device on the premises.”
In short, the business could sell the dolls at its proposed location — such models reportedly sell for about $4,000 — but repeated-use rentals would be banned.
“Because the proposed ordinance change is not aimed at any particular location,” mayoral spokesman Alan Bernstein said, “it was drafted without regard to ‘KinkySDollS.’”
In a statement issued after the company said last month that it was looking to expand to Houston, Turner said, “This is not the kind of business I would like to see in Houston, and certainly this is not the kind of business the city is seeking to attract.”
Elijah Rising, a Houston nonprofit organization whose mission is to end sex trafficking, has launched a petition on change.org calling on the mayor to stop the business from coming to the city. As of Monday, it had more than 12,675 signatures.