ADULTS ONLY: THE FAMOUS GUIDE TO SEX SHOPPING

Jesse Sousana's family has owned and operated WILDCAT
ENTERPRISES for 25 years. The parking lot at this conspicuous blue and gold
building on Fresno and G Street is rarely empty. Serving a mostly male,
blue-collar clientele, Wildcat has been steadily expanding its selection and
slashing prices since Sousana, 28, took over the family business two years
ago.
Wildcat has the largest and lowest priced selection of adult DVDs and videos
in Fresno. "I get every new release, including the amateur stuff you see on
the Internet. Everybody seems to love that stuff," Sousana explains.
The racks and racks of DVDs substantiate his claims. Every genre imaginable
is represented: from amateur to anime, Sousana is serious about meeting his
clients' needs. He gets all the latest hard-to-find she-male releases, has
a wide selection of swinger magazines (that include info on the scene in
Fresno), offers a liberal rental policy (no credit card necessary), and even
hosts an old fashioned, tangible message board. One poster announces, I
want to be tickled.
Wildcat's DVDs are by far the cheapest in town. A current Valentine's Day
sale offers 3 adult DVDs for $20. Bring a receipt for any DVD purchased
Monday through Friday back the following weekend and get 50% off your next
DVD purchase.
Sousana is a third generation porn man. He tells me stories about going to
Hong Kong with his grandfather when he was seven years old. For being good
while his grandfather conducted business, he got to pick out whatever toys
he wanted from a Chinese factory. He also tells me how his grandfather was
the first to offer adult movies by the minute in a video arcade.
The booths at Wildcat don't have doors, and there is, thankfully, a "keep
it in your pants" policy.
"I try to make everyone feel comfortable," he says. "I try to always have
at least one female working and one Spanish speaker."
The store carries the one-of-a-kind designs of Wildcat employee Cha Cha, who
makes many of the outfits Fresno strippers wear.
Wildcat has a large selection of toys for men and women, and Sousana will
steer you to the right device for your needs at the lowest price. On popular
items like the Impulse Slimline Rabbit, Wildcat undercuts the competition by
$10.
Sousana is increasingly catering to couples, women, and the gay community. A
hot item for couples is the Mini Magic vibrating cock ring.
"Any couple I show it to, it's sold," says Sousana. The Mini Magic is
priced at $12.99. But what\'s the best cock ring out there?
"The blue rubber band that comes on broccoli- I\'m not kidding."
The DVD selection at Wildcat
But perhaps you're new to the sex shop thing and aren't quite ready for
such variety. G, GIFTS & GALLERY is good place for beginners. Opened in
December, the Tower District spot is the third in a chain of accessible,
female-friendly stores. The purple box on Van Ness just south of Olive
carries lots of PG-rated gift items, such as cards, massage oils, Tom of
Finland toile boxers, and rainbow gay pride trinkets. It also has G-rated
purses, plush animals, and home décor items. Customers are welcomed by
pumping dance music and video displays.
The goodies you're really after are in the back. There is a tiny gay
section, but mostly the toys are geared towards straight women. The staff
will explain to you they carry the latest models, and their selection, while
somewhat limited, covers most of the basics. The windowless back room has an
overstuffed banquet on which to lounge while you examine the selection. G's
DVD and video section is tiny, but it has a decent selection of
instructional books, mostly for couples. If you\'re looking to purchase your
first ever "pocket rocket," this is the place.