jonn3: good point about cameras. Our theaters do not have them. There are signs in the hallway and entryway that say "all areas except bathrooms are monitored by video surveillance and Romantix security". For one thing, there's no security. There's usually a single employee on duty at any given time, sometimes 2 during the day at most, and that might include the janitor. There's no security position. There's also no cameras in the theaters. There's cameras in the hallways, like a lot of bookstores, but none in the theaters. I know this for a fact.

With that said, there's stores that do have cameras in theaters. Some use it as a vandalism deterrent only and don't care if people are having sex. Others use them to stop sexual activity. I've never known of hidden cameras though. I'm sure they exist but they're not the norm. Most cameras are visible if you stop and look for them. Most places even tell you video surveillance is in use, it's just not clear exactly where, so look around.

Like any bookstore, and especially ones you're new to, don't just jump in with reckless abandon with sexual activity. Look around, watch others, get the feel of the place and the lay of the land. Personally I've been to some stores where I've not had the best feeling either because of the way one or more people were acting, (or not acting) only to return later to find a totally different vibe. Others where I'm familiar with and know the attitude of the staff, I'll jump right in if I see something I'm interested in. Once you know the attitude of the store towards sexual activity, you can be a lot more comfortable. Just take the time to figure out what that attitude is. Personally I've wandered halls with a hard-on in front of the cameras, or played in theaters with cameras--once I was sure that it as A-OK. Other times...not at all. This isn't the easiest thing to gauge, I'll admit. Sometimes even at our own theaters, this can vary depending on who's working. I've seen some clerks kick people out for fucking, and others just walk on by and pretend they didn't see a thing. Some will stop and watch for a bit, then go on about their duties.

Every place is different with regards to cameras, sexual activity, and the attitude of each staff member. Oddly, I've seen a lot of straight male clerks that had less problems with guys getting it on back in the booths or theaters than their female or gay male clerk counterparts so it's impossible to generalize.

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Lonewoof -

Your profile says you are in Nebraska - is the Romantix chain out there as well? I did not realize it was nationwide!

The idea of cameras are a tough call - I can understand why the stores want them to protect from vandalism - but can also see where the stores would NOT want them because they do not want to know what is going on in the theater so if they get busted they can honestly say they did not know.

Very true how some stores are open and supportive of playing - others don't want it - but yet why would you have video booths if you did not expect guys to use them to get off?

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jonn3: Yes, I'm in Lincoln Nebraska, and Romantix is a nationwide chain. We have two here in Lincoln. One is retail only and one has 5 theaters. They're not in every state but they have 56 stores across the country I was told. Back in March and April, during the initial covid lockdown, they told me that ours was one of 8 stores actually open. I asked if it was 8 total or 8 locations (since we have 2), but they weren't sure. Others I've visited: Council Bluffs IA (one retail only, one with 2 theaters and arcade) , Sioux City IA (arcade and one theater), Fort Dodge IA (arcade no theater), Des Moines IA (two, both with arcade and no theaters), Ames IA (arcade, no theater), Waterloo IA (arcade no theater), Iowa City IA (arcade no theater), Sioux Falls SD (arcade and 2 theaters), Fargo ND (arcade no theater), Paducah KY (2 locations, neither with arcade, one with 1 theater, another with 2 theaters), Memphis TN (but they were closed so I didn't actually go inside). If you go to the website I think they list all locations. Headquarters is Denver.

I never understood the cameras either. Courts have ruled that if the clerks/attendants on duty can't see the activity in the arcade, they (clerks personally, but more importantly the company) can't be held liable for sexual activity. Perhaps the camera's deterrent to law enforcement raids outweighs that? Even more importantly, if the arcade or theater is behind locked doors that you have to pay and then be buzzed into, courts have rules that the area doesn't qualify as "public". These aren't national rulings, it's local jurisdiction and was ruled upon years ago (by lenient judges is my guess), which is why even within the same chain, some stores are strict about sexual activity and others in that chain in a different locale aren't.

My guess is that most stores aren't too concerned about dudes jacking off and dumping a load by themselves. Having 2 (or more) guys getting it on, and sometimes loudly, can put them into a whole different arena in the eyes of a few customers and especially law enforcement. There's no law that says it's ok for a guy to jack off but not ok to have sex with others. It's all indecent exposure at the minimum, but you know what I mean. Some things are more easily brushed aside than others even in 2020.

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A quick addendum: Remember there's a difference if the cameras are recording or just feeding to a live monitor for real-time viewing and nothing more. Some record, some don't. Retail and register floor cameras generally do. Arcade cameras? I can't get a straight answer, and I've asked that outright at a couple different Romantix locations where I've befriended the clerks. None are sure and stories are conflicting at best. One clerk (a straight guy on less) told me he wasn't sure if the arcade cameras recorded or not but he thought they didn't, just fed to the monitor for the clerks viewing and patrol of vandalism. His remark was "I don't think corporate WANTS to know what goes on back there". This was in an arcade that had a lot of glory holes too, back years ago. I don't think any of the Romantix stores have them anymore after the Iowa City clerk made news about them with her conflicting sex-positive but health-wise story of quitting in protest over them, and then filing for unemployment and suing for benefits.

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It does make sense that they would not want to record what is going on - they know the truth but have to turn a blind eye and say the booths and theaters are just for "previewing movies" - because if they officially know what is happening they are obligated to stop it.

Not that I think anyone would want to watch me - but with facial recognition software and the like it is a danger these days to those of us who prefer to stay on the DL.

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Yeah, even in our theaters there are (or have been) clerks that will not go back into them unless there's a tech issue, some will go back and do a check and they will kick you out of you're engaging in sex. I've seen several str8 couples kicked out so it's not just targeting man-on-man action either. Other clerks will go back, and ignore it or pause and watch a bit. I was told the rule was to do a walk-thru every 3 hours. I don't know the reason 3 hours was chosen. But some clerks just refuse to do it, they don't wanna see it. And...it is a little difficult when you're the only one working and you have to leave the retail area and go back behind closed doors.

They only ban you if people complain, and then it takes several complaints (just to ensure someone isn't just being mean to someone else is my guess). And it usually has to be aggressive unwanted behavior, not that you're back there sucking some guy off.

I heard at one time last year the Sioux City store was watching the cameras in the hallways kicking people out if they saw 2 in a booth together, sex or not, and not even str8 married couples were allowed in one booth. I heard it was a corporate mandate, but it's the only store I heard of enforcing it, and I heard that they're relaxing that a bit depending on who was working. Anything still goes in the theater there though. I haven't been to that one in years so this isn't first-hand experience, just from a trusted source is all.

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Many of the stores here in Southern California that have reopened the arcades and theaters are still closed - only the retail is open.

I hope they are not going to use this as an excuse to do away with the arcades.

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