The CEO of Camping world told a Tennessee city that the massive American flag outside its dealership will stay there despite warnings from the city to remove it.
Camping World, a national RV dealer whose stores are in more than 200 locations across the country, has feuded with cities over the 40 by 80 foot American flags that wave outside nearly all of its dealerships.
CEO Marcus Lemonis, who has defied orders from several cities to remove the flags, argued that the patriotic crackdown is just one example of local governments harming businesses.
‘It breaks my heart, but I will have to tell you and the rest of the town, flag’s not coming down,’ Lemonis told 6 News.
In February of last year, Camping World submitted a request to the city of Sevierville, Tennessee, to erect a 130-foot-tall flagpole on its property. The request was denied due to its size, 8 WVLT reported.
‘Excessively tall structures can create visual distractions for motorists, post potential safety hazards and impact the scenic views that are a vital part of what makes Sevierville a destination for residents and visitors alike,’ a city official said.
However, the company went ahead and added the flag anyway.
Last week, Lemonis received a letter from the city ordering him to remove the flagpole as it’s ‘in violation of the Municipal Zoning Ordinance.’
The letter said that last year’s request was denied because the property was in a commercial zone, which limits the maximum height of structures other than buildings at 44 feet for safety purposes.
The CEO shared the letter to his X account on Tuesday, doubling down on the decision.
‘The flag and flag pole aren’t coming down,’ he wrote.
‘It’s currently our standard flag pole of 130 and flag is 40×80,’ he added. ‘We are excited to continue to send all the new tax revenue from the 20 million dollar facility we built in your town on former farmland.’
The feud has led to ‘attacks’ of city employees via social media and email, WVLT reported. This led a city official to issue a lengthy statement.
‘Due to the nature of the comments, email and phone calls directed toward City staff, we feel it necessary to say that while we respect and value the right to free expression, we believe that targeting a city employee who is simply carrying out their job is neither patriotic nor productive,’ Sevierville’s public information officer said.
The statement, which was released on Thursday, addressed the claims that the city is unpatriotic.
‘Let us be clear: the City of Sevierville is not, and never will be, against patriotism,’ the statement read.
‘True patriotism embodies respect for the values that unite our community – freedom of expression, responsibility and civil discourse,’ it continued.
‘Publicly attacking an employee for enforcing regulations is not a reflection of patriotism, but a failure of basic human decency.’
The statement mentioned Camping World’s knowledge and ‘blatant disregard’ of the height restriction, adding that ‘the ability to display an American Flag was never in question.’
Lemonis told 6 News that the flag poses no safety issues and has been cleared with the FAA.
‘I hope that everybody in the community understands this is a principle more than anything,’ he told the outlet. ‘It’s not hurting anybody.’
According to the city’s statement, the RV dealership wasn’t the only business to put in a request for a large flagpole – but they are the only business that won’t comply.
‘These businesses have complied with the rulings and worked collaboratively with the City, demonstrating an understanding of the greater community’s needs,’ the statement read.
‘We appreciate their cooperation and believe this collaborative spirit is key to Sevierville’s growth and success.’
Some have called the battle a ‘publicity stunt’ aimed at riling up potential customers to drive them to shop at the business, WVLT reported.
Many residents in the area told 6 News that they don’t mind the size of the flag, despite what the city is arguing.
‘I say leave it alone,’ Kodak resident Wilma Snyder told the outlet. ‘So it’s big. Let it fly.’
Veterans in Sevierville have also expressed their fondness for the flag as they see it as a symbol of what they fought for.
‘It represents our country, and it represents everybody that fought for this country, and it’s our independence,’ retired veteran Jeff Renshaw said.
Renshaw said that removing the flag is ‘absolutely the worst thing you could possibly think about doing.’
The city has given Camping World 30 days to comply before it proceeds with legal action or issue citations.
‘I understand this is a bone of contention,’ Lemonis told 6 News. ‘I understand that we’re going to get fined. I understand that the city has rights to do a lot of things but the flag, it’s not coming down.’
This isn’t the first time Lemonis has stood his ground against orders to remove the flags, as nearly all of Camping World locations across the country have them flying high outside its dealerships.
California, Wisconsin and two cities in North Carolina have also had issues with the flags’ presence, according to Fox News.
‘And I think this is a perfect example of local and city and state municipalities putting regulations on businesses that don’t advance the business,’ Lemonis told Fox Business’ The Bottom Line in late January.
‘They just create more noise and unnecessary distractions.’
The CEO, who was born in Lebanon and left on the doorstep of an orphanage, was adopted by a couple from Miami when he was nine years old.
‘I’ve had this flag in my family since I was a little child. I was born in a foreign country, I had the blessing of being here in the United States where I can have a business and have employees,’ Lemonis told 6 News.
‘This is my way to pay respect, not only to the veterans of this country, but current and active military, and everybody else who just loves the country.’