Adult-Store Patrons Cause Parking Woes in Neighborhood, Says Alderman

Late-night shoppers at a certain adult video store on Mystic Avenue, on the outskirts of Winter Hill, may soon be getting more parking tickets.

The Somerville Board of Aldermen at their April 26 meeting asked the parking and traffic department to dispatch parking officers to Grant Street and Mystic Avenue between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Ward 4 Alderman Tony Lafuente described the problem:

"This is in direct response to the adult business that we have on Mystic Avenue," he said. "Some of the residents are having trouble with parking once they come home at nine o'clock [or] ten o'clock because some of the patrons to that business are parking on Grant Street and other streets in the area other than the parking lot."

Lafuente did not name the business, but is at that corner.

On Yelp, one reviewer had this to say about the business:

"Besides the great selection, another great feature at the Main Street Video is the viewing booths in the back. Some people say it's grungy with off-putting smells, but I like it. Call me sentimental, but you can't replicate this atmosphere at home."

Perhaps more telling was what another reviewer wrote:

"The most embarrassing thing would have to be walking back to your car. You can park on side streets so people don't know you're in there until you exit the building."