Camping World location closes amid controversy over flying American flag
(FOX40.COM) — Nearly one year after a Camping World RV Sales store in Northern California battled officials over the ability to fly a massive American flag, another location across the country abruptly closed its doors amid the same flag issue.
In April 2024, Camping World in San Joaquin County was forced to take down a 120-foot American flag that flew over the business's grounds for alleged safety reasons and lack of permission to fly it.
Northern California business, county at odds over ability to fly large American flag
'Camping World's flagpole was installed with neither a building permit nor planning approval, therefore, they are in conversation with the code enforcement division,' San Joaquin County said in a statement to FOX40.
Although the county cited permit issues, Camping World's CEO, Marcus Lemonis, took issue with removing the flag, regardless of the reason.
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At the time, Lemonis told FOX40 that if it were a marketing flag on the pole, he might take it down while the business works out the permitting issues with the county, but the American flag stays, no matter what the county says.
Fast forward to 2025, and another Camping World across the country, in North Carolina, closed its doors for good amid the same flag battle between the business and local county officials. The closed-down store was one of two locations in the area. There are more than 250 Camping World dealerships throughout the United States.
According to ABC 12 in North Carolina, in March, the Greenville City Council voted against an ordinance that would allow Camping World to fly its American Flag. Additionally, Camping World had been fined $8,900 for violating the city's code. The business would also continue to face fines until the flag was removed.
On Tuesday, Lemonis told WITN News that he abruptly closed that location last week.
'We think the ordinance is wrong,' Lemonis said in an interview WITN. 'I think it's also wrong (that) council members have been working very actively to disparage my business, and on Friday I had to consolidate modification of two dealerships in town … our business which has been unfortunately impacted uniquely in Greenville NC.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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