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THE CEO of a RV dealer has been forced into closing one of the company’s locations as a dispute over a feature outside a store continues to rumble on.
Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World, has been ordered to remove an American flag that has been erected in an outlet’s parking lot.
Officials claim the size of the flag means it’s in breach of a local law, but the executive has taken a defiant stance.
Camping World has been slapped with fines totaling $15,000, but Lemonis remains undeterred.
He told a local radio station that he wouldn’t take down the flag – even if he faced jail time, as reported by the ABC affiliate WCTI-TV.
Lemonis has discussed the effects of the dispute involving the city of Greenville, North Carolina.
He revealed that a Camping World store has closed its doors.
Lemonis accused local lawmakers of trying to “disparage” his company.
The symbol was taken down temporarily following Donald Trump’s order to fly flags at half-staff following the death of Pope Francis, per the CBS affiliate WNCT-TV.
In January, Camping World executives attempted to amend the local law regarding flags.
The Stars and Stripes flag is around 15 times larger than what is allowed on a business property.
But, lawmakers denied the application for a range of reasons including safety, as reported by WITN-TV.
Lemonis has revealed why the American flag stands outside his stores.
“I’ve put a lot of sweat and tears into building this business for my people, for the country,” he told Fox Business.
“And it’s my love letter to tell everybody how grateful I am this country provided me an opportunity where it didn’t have to.”
Lemonis moved from Lebanon to the US.
The dispute in Greenville, North Carolina, is not the only saga that has engulfed Camping World.
Lemonis is also involved in a dispute with the city of Sevierville, Tennessee.
FLAG DISPUTES
Local officials have claimed that the 130-foot flagpole exceeds the maximum allowed height.
The city claimed that Camping World chiefs went ahead with their plans to erect the flagpole – even though their application was denied, as reported by the ABC affiliate WATE-TV.
Lemonis has also taken a defiant stance, warning that he would not take it down.
In March, he shared a picture of the lawsuit on X and captioned the post: “The flag will not come down.”
He was issued with the lawsuit – months after city officials warned that legal action was a possibility.
Officials have stressed that the dispute is focused on the length of the pole – not the flag itself.
“Let us be clear: this issue has never been about the American flag,” a spokesperson told WATE.
“The display of the flag is not only welcomed — it’s celebrated here.
“This is not about symbols. It is about structures.”