Cupid Shop, in Princes St, will be closing today after more than 50 years in business.
Co-owners Tyler and Jenna Lapham took over the business in 2019 from Mr Lapham’s parents.
Not many people expected the running of an R18 store to be a family affair, Mr Lapham said.
“Being a 12-year-old boy going to high school and then all your friends … find out that your parents own a sex store, you become a bit of a talk around school.
“You can get a few laughs, a few banters from it.”
He had “an interesting childhood” and a lot of memories of the store, Mr Lapham said.
“I would say a large portion of my childhood was actually spent in here, doing homework.”
The business was established in 1972, and settled in Princes St about 30 years ago, having relocated from Queens Gardens and Stafford St before that.
According to its website, the business is “one of New Zealand’s longest-running adult shops”.
As well as adult toys, lingerie and other novelty products, the store also still sold DVDs and VHS.
It would continue to operate as an online business.
Mrs Lapham said their 1-year-old daughter, Harper, was the main reason for the store’s closure.
“We’ve started a family, and I love my job and I wish I could stay, but it just doesn’t work out.
“Getting home late and missing bedtime and dinner time with the family just doesn’t seem like it’s worth missing out on.”
Mr Lapham said he had also recently started his own accounting practice in the city.
His father, the late Carl Lapham, took over Cupid Shop in the early 1980s.
His mother, Lesley Lapham, is still a listed director of the company.
Some of their regulars had been visiting the store for more than 30 years, she said.
“And all of them are really sorry we’re going.”
The store closes today, but will be open on Monday and Tuesday.
tim.scott@odt.co.nz
