Priape is a brand that many men know well. For the past thirty-four years it has catered primarily to gay and bisexual men, not just in the fetish community but for anyone seeking to explore their sexual identity. At the end of last month it underwent not only an ownership change, but a change in its infrastructure as well; even so, the new owners have remained confident that the heart of the business will remain the same.

For those who may not know, Priape’s efforts began in 1974 when it opened its first store. Since then it has grown to cater to men, namely those who are gay or bisexual, but as of late has attracted a straight clientele as well. At its core, it has been a friendly, welcoming hub allowing people to find themselves. It offers a selection of fetish gear, leather, fashionable clothing, and all that anyone would want to find in a sex shop – DVDs, toys, lubricants, and other things to catch your fancy. In fact, Priape often buys the rights of hundreds of adult films from US companies for distribution in Canada, making its selection some of the best in the country.

More than just a store, it has kept a focus on the gay community as well. They’ve sponsored events in Montreal, Toronto, and across Alberta, their presence growing with each store they opened. They helped to start the Mr. Leather Calgary competition in 2009, putting force and funding into helping cultivate the leather community in our somewhat conservative province.

But one disadvantage to the new Priape is that its stores in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver will be shut down; its location in the heart of Montreal’s Village will remain, as well as its online presence, Priape.com.  So customers throughout the country will still have access to the store’s cutting edge clothing and selection online.

The new owners are Stephen Pevner, owner of New York production company Saint At Large, and Denis Leblanc, an employee of Priape for fourteen years. "I have given my life to the survival of Priape and I refused to see it expire on my watch. The P remains tattooed on my heart," says Leblanc.

It’s hard to say what the future holds but, if its history gives us any indication, Priape should not disappoint in its new direction. Leblanc further says that "I have always been a huge fan of PRIAPE’s progressive approach to clothing, its unique position as a pillar of Montreal’s gay Village and its role in helping gay men discover their sexual identity. It’s an exciting opportunity to work toward broadening the definition of fetish wear for an ever changing marketplace, invoking the same creativity and passion we have brought to New York’s long-running BLACK PARTY."

The BLACK PARTY is the biggest underground gay dance party in North America, and is a production of Saint At Large – a company well renowned for its progressive approach to music, dance parties, art exhibits, independent films, and costume design. Combine that with the sexual liberation and influence of Priape, and it promises to be a team-up that can only bring good things. With both Leblanc and Pevner at the wheel, Priape is steering toward new and exciting territory, all while doing what it has always done – opening the hearts and minds of men and women.