The following is a report from WITN.
In his latest interview, the CEO of Camping World is reiterating his stance that he will not take down the huge flag at his location at the corner of Evans Street and Red Banks Road while acknowledging the controversy has had an impact on his business in Greenville.
The city says the American flag and flagpole it is flying on, violate city code due to their size.
Marcus Lemonis was on Inner Banks Media radio station WTIB Tuesday morning where he told Henry Hinton on Talk of the Town that he closed one of his two Greenville locations on Friday. He said that employees at the Forest River RV location on Greenville Boulevard were told they were closing due to the controversy created by the council. “We think the ordinance is wrong,” said Lemonis. ” I think it’s also wrong council members have been working very actively to disparage my business and on Friday I had to consolidate modification of 2 dealerships in town. The main one that you’re referring to and another one of Greenville-and we had to close that – our business which has been unfortunately impacted uniquely in Greenville NC”.
Lemonis also told Hinton he believes the Greenville flag ordinance which has caused a controversy is in violation of state laws although he did not state which statutes he was referring to. Lemonis said, “They (the council) should probably do a little research on the statutes in the state of North Carolina.”
The Greenville City Council voted 4-2 in March to hire outside legal counsel to sue Lemonis and Camping World.
Hinton made a proposal to Lemonis that he said he hoped the city would accept. The proposal was that Lemonis and Camping World make a $50,000 donation to Maynard Children’s Hospital in Greenville in lieu of fines and with the agreement that the council would change the ordinance to allow his flag. Lemonis then said he would make the donation but did not want it to be a quid pro quo in exchange for the ordinance change.
“The merits of the Children’s Hospital stand on their own and anytime an organization like that that’s trying to do good things and actually doing good things they’re deserving of a contribution so I’d be happy to make a donation but I don’t do that – take my word on that -but I would I would prefer not to have it ……be a quid pro quo.
