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From Fox Business: Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis has said he’s been forced to shutter one of his stores in North Carolina amid a heated legal battle about his massive American flags flying at his stores.
Lemonis told WITN this week that he closed the smaller of his two RV dealerships in Greenville on April 18 accusing council members of actively trying to disparage his business for refusing to take down the giant flags.
City leaders in Greenville, North Carolina, voted to take legal action against the flags in March since they violate city ordinances and Lemonis has been hit with $15,000 in fines.
The flags are almost the size of a basketball court, spanning 3200 square feet while the pole it flies from is around 130 feet tall, almost double the current allowance.
“We think the ordinance is wrong,” Lemonis told local radio station WTIB, according to WITN. “They (the council) should probably do a little research on the statutes in the state of North Carolina.”
READ MORE from Fox News.
Lemonis has indicated the closure of one location may be due to storm damage.
On April 21, one X user wrote, “Just read that the Marion location shut down permanently today. Going to miss that flag!”
Lemonis replied, “Needs to be totally rebuilt after the storm. Insurance and contractors have to be able to re do the whole property.”
Needs to be totally rebuilt after the storm. Insurance and contractors have to be able to re do the whole property
— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) April 21, 2025
Pinned to the top of his X page is the following statement Lemonis posted on April 1:
Dear Any town USA,
I have received countless calls, emails, texts and mail regarding my refusal to take down the flag. These flags that I put up are not just at @CampingWorld. They have gone up at 1 small business in South Carolina @ShulersBBQ and in the town of Grafton IL.
These flags represent something personal to me. I came to this country from an orphanage in Beirut, Lebanon at 9 months old. I grew up in a middle class home where work ethic was everything, maybe the only thing. Our family was in the Chevrolet Business and had the largest flag in Miami. As a child I used to tell everyone that one day I would have a business of my own and that I my flag would be bigger, like any child would. I have put up 220 flags across this country totaling 704,000 square feet. My secret goal has always been to get to one million, yes 1,000,000 sqft.
I thought it was a more impressive way to be a “millionaire” . Over the years on my journey I have experienced life to the fullest. I’ve made my share of mistakes, experienced the highs of building something with great people around me, the lows of helping people and then being sued, married for true love, lied to because of pure greed, criticized for being too…. ( flavor of the day) , and seen things people dream of.
I may not be the American dream but I want to be and know I have it in me. The flag is my love letter to a country that gave me a chance when I didn’t have one, gave me a free market to make money, gave me freedom to be me and gave me courage to try anything. While I receive the criticism saying that I don’t respect laws because I have money, because I’m too self centered, too greedy, attention seeking, publicity hound , bad advertiser and the list goes on. Well, I do have pride, I have been blessed with success, I do have conviction and I have my freedom.
The flag isn’t coming down. No matter the consequences. I am an only child. My parents are both passed. I have no kids. I have my faith, my businesses, my wife and my principles.
Unfortunately, I will see the two of you in court. @GreenvilleNC @SeviervilleTN
ML
Dear Any town USA,
I have received countless calls, emails, texts and mail regarding my refusal to take down the flag. These flags that I put up are not just at @CampingWorld. They have gone up at 1 small business in South Carolina @ShulersBBQ and in the town of Grafton IL.… pic.twitter.com/NZ6MnUOggG— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) April 1, 2025
On Thursday, Lemonis posted the following inspirational video about the flags at his Camping World locations.
#NeverComingDown pic.twitter.com/AK09jlFBVp
— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) April 24, 2025
The CEO of Camping World says the controversy over the huge American flag and flagpole in violation of Greenville City code has had an impact on his business in Greenville. https://t.co/ouwKyq514G
— WITN Headlines (@WITN) April 22, 2025
Of all things to pick on a company about…flying a huge American flag. I hope Greenville, NC residents take note and don’t re-elect a one of them. #Greenville #NC #NorthCarolinahttps://t.co/2hX6em8WsN
— Sean Hyman (@Sean_Hyman) April 26, 2025
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