Page 64 - AVN February 2016

PLEASURE PRODUCTS
Chi Chi LaRue’s Unveils Revamped Retail Outlet
“Just a little boutique!” exclaimed Chi Chi
LaRue at the grand re-opening in January of
the 2000-square-foot brick-and-mortar retail
outlet in West Hollywood, California, that
bears her name.
The GAYVN Hall of Fame-winning director,
DJ and drag queen greeted guests as they
arrived to inspect the new store—situated
across the street and down the block from
its prior location—lit for the occasion in pink
and purple neon lights with a Tom of Finland
cutout on the sidewalk outside for event-
appropriate photo opportunities and a
backroom appropriately titled The Dungeon
with an open bar, shirtless men slinging drinks
and a leather sling behind a chain link fence.
The night’s menu included a chance to press
the flesh with youthful CockyBoys matinee
idols—whose appearance launched a fusillade
of cell phone camera flashes and gasps of
recognition from passersby on Santa Monica
Boulevard—and an in-store presentation by
XR Dungeon, makers of BDSM tools and toys.
(The event invitation also invited attendees to
discreetly “use and abuse our back entrance,”
a door tucked in an alleyway behind the store.)
Chi Chi LaRue’s launched in its original
location in 2008 and carries the Channel 1
Releasing labels, among them legacy brands
All Worlds Video, Catalina Video and Dirk
Yates Collection as well as LaRue’s own Rascal
Video line of toys and films. Additional toy
lines include COLT Studio, Oxballs and Perfect
Fit. Photobooks, calendars, lube and adult
DVDs, naturally, fill out the shelves.
Photographer Greg Lenzman was among
the guests who attended the store’s initial
launch party. “It’s a much nicer location,” he
observed. “There’s tons of foot traffic here.
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And there are boys everywhere!”
Among the guests were AVN’s CEO Tony Rios,
GAYVN Hall of Fame director and founder of All
Worlds Video, Dirk Yates, Channel 1 Releasing
partners Rob Novinger and Steven Walker,
dragstress and director Coco Lachine, Cybersocket
publisher Morgan Sommer, DJ Francesco Pagano,
reviewer Leo Buck, performer-director Doug
Jeffries and performers Chad Hunt, Brendan Patrick,
Brendan Phillips and Chris Wide. Director Jake
Jaxson and photographer RJ Sebastian wrangled
a group of CockyBoys, among them Levi Carter,
Angel Cruz, Bravo Delta, Tayte Hanson, Allen King,
Cory Prince and Kody Stewart.
The relaunched Chi Chi LaRue’s is located at
8861 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.