The Book-A-Zine is a rather inconspicuous store on Bank Street. I would have easily walked right by it without noticing that it is a sex shop.
As soon as I walked through the door, the man working there asked me my age, saying, “You look very young.” When I replied that I was eighteen, he looked at me skeptically and asked to see an ID. When he saw that I really was eighteen, he remarked, “You have a baby face.” On that note, I proceeded to look around the store.
I had never been in a sex shop before, but it was more or less what I expected. There was a wide range of pornographic DVDs, magazines, lingerie and an assortment of sex toys. The store also provides escorts and entertainers. As I was walking around, I overheard a few of the man’s conversations on the phone with clients. “Is it a retirement or a bachelor’s? …What’s your preference with race?”
The man who questioned my age turned out to be named Richard, and he seemed happy to tell me about the store even though I wasn’t buying anything. He explained that the Book-A-Zine is a chain owned by “The Italians of New Jersey” with 198 shops all over the country; he has worked at several of these locations. This particular store has been in New London for forty-three years. In fact, it’s the oldest store in the downtown area. “This,” Richard said, “this is an icon in New London.”
Richard informed me that teachers and police are the most frequent customers, though some other typical customers are lawyers, politicians, doctors, firemen, priests and guidance counselors.
There are viewing booths at the shop, so I asked if that part of the business had been harmed because of Internet porn. Richard said it hadn’t because people are worried about getting caught. “You may be single and young,” Richard remarked, “and you may have your private room. Most of the people who come here are married.”
I asked if anyone in the neighborhood ever had an issue with the shop or tried to get it shut down. He responded dismissively, saying that yes, some people criticized it, but “Most of the people who complain about it and don’t want to be seen come through the back door.”
The Book-A-Zine survives by following the rules. It always pays its taxes and doesn’t allow drugs, prostitution or anyone underage (evidently, they take this rule seriously). They don’t display anything in the windows, which are in fact painted over. The store is also very generous; it has donated money to the New London Police Union and the New London Firefighters. It has even donated money to two orphanages. Richard stated, “a lot of people talk bad about this place, but when they want a donation, they come right here.”
Security is pretty tight. Richard informed me that there were cameras in the store, recording us at that very moment. Sure enough, not long after he said this, the phone started ringing. “They’re doing something for school,” he reassured the person on the phone, “it’s all right.”
I was more than a little unnerved by this, but continued talking to Richard. I was surprised to discover that guys are not the main patrons, and that just as many girls visit the store. Richard told me that people of all genders and sexualities will come in, and he declared, “Some of the women are more brave than the men!”
The store is evidently very successful. I visited it on Easter Sunday, and was surprised that it was even open. But even on Easter, Richard had gotten a lot of business, and apparently people spend quite a bit of money there; one couple’s bill was over $100!
This is not Richard’s only job; he works at the Book-A-Zine during the day and at a hospital at night. His family is not pleased with this particular job; “Half my family are Christians, they give me a hard time,” he explained. “But to me, it’s just a job.”
As I was leaving I noticed the sign on the door: Please “Cum” Again!!
(Editor’s note: author anonymous by request)
