Iowa City Woman’s Sex-Themed Shop Not Exciting Renters

By Jillian Petrus, Reporter

Tools

By Kelli Sutterman

Story Created: Apr 19, 2011 at 10:12 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 19, 2011 at 10:50 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - 27-year-old Julia Schaefer and her business partner are in search of the perfect spot for her new boutique in Iowa City.

She has the money and the plans but so far no space for her business.

“It’s been really frustrating! Very frustrating,” said Schaefer.

Schaefer says the reason she can’t get someone to rent her a space for her shop “The Tool Box” is because the artwork, the books and the toys she plans to sell there are all about sex.

“A lot of judgment from property owners and the bank,” she said. “Sex is still really taboo in this country.”

Schaefer says three renters turned her down and two didn’t even show her the listing.

She adds US bank wouldn’t let her open a business account and she had start up cash ready to deposit.

“We were really shocked by the bank,” she said. “It’s our money we’re giving to them.”

In a statement, US bank Media Relations Coordinator Amy Frantti says the company, as a matter of policy, made a conscious decision not to bank certain industries.

Schaefer tells us she and her business partner are not giving up on their dream to open the sex-themed store.

“It’s discouraging, but we’re definitely going to move forward, because we believe there is a place for us in Iowa City.”

But that place isn’t as explicit as the stuff she hopes to sell.

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