Since so many of our recent adventures and so many of the questions that we get revolve around the CVE, I thought it would be good to give a little overview of the place.

CVE stands for Carolina Video Exchange.  It is an adult bookstore and theater in Gastonia, NC.  Gastonia is a small town just west of Charlotte.  Unlike most adult businesses around the US, the CVE attracts a fair number of couples.

The layout of the store is fairly basic.  Upon entering the store you step directly on to the sales floor. They have a wide variety of sex toys, lingerie, lotions, jewelry, T-shirts and other novelties.  The store is clean, well-lit and well-organized. Beyond the main sales floor there is a smaller room with modest DVD collection.

Most of the attention generated by CVE has little to do with the retail area.  The other areas of the store generally stay busy even if the sales area appears empty.

Many adult bookstores have a viewing area.  Whether they are old-fashioned video booths or small preview rooms, most of us have seen these viewing areas in other places.  CVE has a video booth area, but it is different from most others in a number of ways.  First - and most obviously - there are no slots for dollar bills, coins or tokens.  You simply pay an admission fee to enter the area.  Once the fee is paid, you are free to enjoy the videos as long as you would like.  Also, the area is larger than most other video galleries.  Each booth shows a different movie, which plays continually throughout the day.  About half of the booths have gloryholes.  More about that later.

Passing through the video booth area takes you to the theater.  Much smaller than the mall multi-plex. the theater has seating for about 50 people. Movies play continually throughout the day.  

The final room is the couples room.  Set apart from the rest of the store and accesible only to couples, this room is ringed by a half dozen love seats which face a large-screen television that plays movies all day (and night).

So what goes on at the infamous CVE? 

At any given time, the answer to that question varies widely.  Some guys go to the CVE several times a week and never see/do anything.  Others will stumble in at just the right moment and witness and experience a once in a lifetime moment. 

What may or may not be going on depends, of course, entirely on the people who are there at the time. Generally speaking, there are more couples during the evening than during the day, and a larger number on the weekends than during the work week.   Not all couples come for the same reason.  Some simply enjoy watching an adult movie in a public setting.  Others like to watch what may be going on around them.  (Yes, guys.  Some women like to see men jerking off.)  Some are exhibitionists who enjoy entertaining others with shows that range from quick upskirt peeks to all-out sex while others watch.  Some allow others to join their play.  Again, that can mean anything from letting a guy touch, to a handjob, to a lot more.

For some, the gloryhole is the ideal place to play.  It allows a couple to do what they want to do while maintaining a level of security.  They can watch, be watched, give head and even have sex through the gloryhole while remaining somewhat anoymous, choosing their partners selectively and ensuring that no one pushes things too far.  Gloryhole booths can be nasty places.  Belive me, we have seen some pretty scary stuff.  But the booths at CVE - like everything else at CVE - are very clean and well maintained.

Others prefer the theater since there are more options. If you are considering a gangbang that involves a group of strangers in a semi-public place, an adult theater is one of the few places  that you may be able to pull that off.  The theater is clean, comfortable and has a nice atmosphere.

CVE offers the couples room as a refuge for couples.  If you need a respite from the attention of the guys or just prefer a quieter place to relax, the couples room is ideal. It is not uncommon to see couples playing in the couples room, so if the sight of sexual activity will offend you, be advised.  On the other hand, the couples room is not an orgy. Our experience has been that most couples play alone, other couples just watch the movie and on rare occasions you may see couples playing together.

What should I/we expect at the CVE? 

This, I suppose, is the most important question.  Will I be mobbed?  Will I be forced to do something I don't want?  Will I feel pressured? No to all of the above.

I have long believed that it is the woman who makes the rules in these situations.  The guys at the theater - and her husband - may hope, wish, ask, beg, whine and otherwise plead for her to do something.  Bottom line is that if she doesn't want to, it isn't going to happen.  Nor should it happen. 

On the other hand, if you are asking, "Will I be able to have my first lesbian encounter while 7 well-dressed strangers stand around and watch?", the answer would be, probably not. You never know who will be there, and whether or not they share the same interests that you do.

Bottom line is that you should expect a clean, safe comforatble place to play.  Whether or not there are playmates for your particular game cannot be guaranteed.

The people who go to CVE are as varied as you can imagine.  We have seen couples from their 20's to their 70's and about everything in between.  Including some guys close to 70 with dates closer to 20! Some of the ladies that attend dress to kill, others prefer jeans and sweatshirt.  Of course, you wardrobe may be determined by your intentions for the evening. 

First timers can go, without pressure, and learn about the place.  You will find a pretty friendly crowd who will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.  The staff is helpful, and welcomes couples gladly.  Of course, ladies or couples that would like a playful couple to escort them should contact us.

For more specific information and suggestions, you can read up on gloryholes.  An article on theater etiquette will follow soon.

Carolina Video Exchange
2308 N Chester St
Gastonia, NC 28052-1811

Located on  Hwy  321,  half mile north of I-85 (Exit 17).

Admission to Booths and Theaters: $15.  Couples are admitted free on Wednesdays and Sundays, although there is a $5 charge for the couples room on those days. 

Readers have left 9 comments.

 1. Mack
Guest User, Unregistered

Very useful article. I was hoping to meet somebody at CVE or other bookstore to introduce me to couples/ females and see if we mesh.
Please advise.

 Posted 2008-07-21 11:36:01

 2. want to know
Guest User, Unregistered

could you please give me the web page for Carolina Video Exchange thanks

 Posted 2009-02-11 21:17:46

 3. Web Site
Alex, Super Administrator

CVE does not have a website, as far as I know. That is why I wrote this piece.

 Posted 2009-02-12 05:02:26

 4. good article
J & A, Unregistered

Great article...wife and I have been thinking of going but have been a little scared of that "first" time visit. Helped a lot. We may check it out soon now.

 Posted 2009-04-25 13:06:18

 5. Glad you enjoyed
Alex, Super Administrator

Glad you found the article helpful. Be sure to check out our Couples Guide for Visiting Porn Theaters.

 Posted 2009-04-25 13:17:29

 6. Hours
Guest User, Unregistered

My boyfriend and I are thinking of checking out CVE this weekend...wondered if you could tell me what the hours are? Thanks!

 Posted 2009-04-29 22:27:29

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