Camping World has responded to California officials after they demanded the company remove its massive American flag from the front of its store.
The RV sales store in Stockton, San Joaquin County, like the vast majority of its other outlets, has a huge Old Glory flying above its floor.
In April, the San Joaquin County Department of Community Development halted the flag for alleged safety reasons and lack of a permit.
According Fox 40The county said there were concerns about the flagpole’s base, proximity to property lines and a nearby interstate highway should it fall.
Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis learned of the dispute and has since ordered the concessionaire to restore the Star Spangled Banner.
The RV sales store in Stockton, San Joaquin County, like the vast majority of its other outlets, has a huge Old Glory flying above its grounds.
In April, the San Joaquin County Community Development Department suspended the flag for alleged safety reasons and lack of a permit. An unknown Camping World store is seen here.
Speaking to the outlet, Lemonis said: ‘If we felt that we were putting people in danger or causing problems with air traffic, which would not be right at all, then I wouldn’t do it.
He added that the flag was installed sensibly and safely taking into account the inclement weather and is planted deep into the ground.
Lemonis said if it were a marketing pole he might allow it to be removed permanently, but the American flag is there to stay, no matter what officials say.
Lemonis said the Camping World flag is installed sensibly and safely, taking into account the inclement weather. It is also driven deep into the ground.
He said: “It’s a symbol of what we feel about this country. We have a lot of veterans who work for us and a lot of veterans who shop with us.”
‘I am an immigrant. I was blessed to be able to come to this country and become a citizen, and I am grateful for that.
‘It’s been a part of my life since I was a little kid in Miami, Florida, where we had the largest flagpole in Miami at our car dealership.’
Lemonis, pictured here, said the Camping World flag is installed sensibly and securely, taking into account the inclement weather. It is also driven deep into the ground.
The county said in a statement: ‘Camping World’s flagpole was installed without a building permit or planning approval, so they are in discussions with the code enforcement division.
Officials reiterated Friday that they had never asked Camping World to remove the flag from the facility and that the business did not have a permit to do so.
Jennifer Jolley, community development director, told Recordnet: ‘Our code enforcement went through their process, investigated it and determined that it had been erected without a building permit.
‘A code enforcement case was opened and the company was informed that it needed to obtain a building permit for the flagpole.’
Officials reiterated Friday that they had never asked Camping World to remove the flag from the facility and that the company did not have permission to do so.
The 2022 California Building Code adopted by San Joaquin County requires building permits for flagpoles taller than 30 feet.
This isn’t the first time Lemonis has irritated city officials; a similar situation played out in Statesville, North Carolina, in 2019.
His store in town, then known as Gander RV, had flown a 3,200-square-foot American flag that the town said violated the ordinance.
Lemonis then said he was prepared to be arrested and sent to jail, saying, “As I told the city… it’s not going down under any circumstances.
Statesville City Attorney Leah Messick filed a court order that, if not complied with, would result in jail time.
Then he said:I would never want to break the law or be in contempt of any court of any kind, except in this particular situation.
“I understand that if I do not comply with that order, I could be arrested and kept in jail until the flag is lowered.”
City leaders later decided to rezone the area around the store to allow the flag to remain within compliance.
