The two-week period for submissions on the adult entertainment sex shop closed Monday afternoon, however some businesses said they had no idea about the proposal until they saw the sign stuck on the vacant window.

“There’s a place for it but I don’t think it’s the central business district in view of a main mall, between major retailers such as Target and Best & Less,” said Confetti owner Mel Hamilton.

“We have a lot of children-focused businesses in this area. Do parents really have to explain what it’s all about?” Ms Hamilton said.

“I just don’t think the store fits the picture of where they want to put it. I’m very happy for it to be in town somewhere … but across the road from us is not that place,” Cotmakers owner Brad Blackburn said.

“I have lots of young mums, grandmothers with kids and it’s just not the right place. A different spot, yeah fine just not in this area,” Joan’s Shoes owner Joan Brenner said.

A sticking point is the restriction that it should not be on the ground floor. It is also 190 metres from Wagga’s Greek orthodox church in Thompson Street, yet the manager of the proposed sex shop wants the ground floor restriction to be lifted for disability access, while claiming churches and sex shops co-exist ‘without any problem’ in other areas.

“So many people will be blown away by what we have to offer,” Flirt Adult Store manager Kerrie McKinnon said.

Flirt has five adult stores in NSW: Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Bathurst and Orange, with another just been given the go ahead in Woy Woy. Wagga Wagga is the next target.

The move has also upset Wagga’s current adult entertainment store, Simply Risque in Fitzmaurice Street, which itself had to comply with heavy council restrictions to be allowed to open for business.

“Any adult store which is running on the B3 section of town which is the end of Baylis Street must be on the first floor and must not be within 400 metres of a school or church,” the owner of Simply Risque said.

“I have no problem with it opening and no problem with competition and there’s two other illegally-run adult places in town.”

Businesses against the sex shop have written to council arguing against the shop being allowed to open at the Baylis Street site.

Flirt is hoping to move into the Wagga premises by Christmas.