Forbidden Fruit

Specialties

Austin’s Original Erotic Boutique specializes in adult intimacy enhancement products. We carry vibrators, dildos, lubricants, bondage supplies, lingerie, bachelorette party supplies and more. We feature a Sexpert staff who’s mission is to answer your questions and offer great suggestions. They work hard to ensure a safe, comfortable environment for your intimate shopping needs. We offer sex positive workshops for women and couples like Felatio 101, Beginner’s BDSM, How to Strip for Your Partner and Pole Dancing. Forbidden Fruit is a strong supporter of the local community, donating to over 50 causes annually. Forbidden Fruit also sponsors and produces local events: Extravagasm Fantasy Ball and the Texas Burlesque festival.

Our Motto: Keep Austin Kinky!

History

Established in 1981.

Forbidden Fruit was founded on the premise of creating a store where women, couples and individuals of any sexual orientation could comfortably explore products and subjects related to intimacy enhancement in a safe, fun, welcoming environment. 1992 saw a small satellite location on Guadalupe St which moved to the North Loop Strip in 1994. Forbidden Fruit was instrumental in bringing the body piercing movement to Austin, holding the first piercing clinics in 1990 and operated a nationally recognized piercing and tattoo parlor from 1995 – 2004 on 6^th Street. In 1982, Forbidden Fruit also pioneered the Home Toy Party concept in Austin and still offers this service today! Sadly, the original boutique at 512 Neches in the heart of the historical downtown entertainment district closed as of August 27,2011. We are currently searching for a new second location

Forbidden Fruit has been the winner of Austin’s Best Naughty Business for last 13 years in the Austin Chronicle’s Reader’s Poll.

Meet the Business Owner

Terri Lynn R.

Business Owner

Terri Lynn Raridon holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Texas, danced professionally with Dee McCandles/​Invisible Inc from 1982 – 1997. Choreographed and/​or directed over 2 dozen musicals from 1983 – 2002 and received two B Iden Payne awards for her work. She began doing at home parties for Forbidden Fruit part time back in 1982, worked her way up to manager of the original bricks and mortar at 512 Neches St. She purchased the business from founder Mark Garfinkel in 1987.

She worked as consulting artistic director for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Texas Burlesque from 2004 – 2009 and took over the role of producer/​director of the Texas Burlesque Festival in 2009. She produced/​directed The Extravagasm Fantasy Ball from 2001 – 2011 and now serves as a co-​producer of Austin’s Zombie Ball. She is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the State of Texas and a director of the Bill Hicks Foundation for Wildlife, is an ACC adjunct faculty member since 1987, and blissfully married with a son.