Danish News rebuffed

Loss

Danish News rebuffed

The Danish News Co., adult book store, has lost its first court bid to keep the store open.

The Michigan Court of Appeals turned down a request from store owners that the court review a May 28 preliminary injunction from Washtenaw Circuit Court Judge Henry T. Conlin. That order required the 209 N. Fourth Ave. business to close.

However, owners of the store continued to keep the operation open, saying that Conlin’s order only prohibited them from running an adult bookstore. Conlin then issued an amended order June 18, saying that his original order was intended to prohibit the operation of any business at the Fourth Avenue location, not just the operation of an adult bookstore.

The bookstore closed June 19 in light of that amended order, and has not reopened. But The Danish News Co. also has asked the Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court to review Conlin’s amended order, according to City Attorney R. Bruce Laidlaw. No decision has yet been made on that case, he added.

Danish News owner Terry Shoultes and attorney William Swor could not be reached for comment this morning. 

The city has charged that the bookstore violates city zoning and sign ordinances, as it is located just north of the zoning district boundary for adult entertain businesses.