Medusas co-owner Randy Gill shares how his career as a drug and alcohol counselor has contributed to owning an adult store and their unique approach to retail.
(NOTE: This story appears in the February 2025 issue of SE Magazine)
Shifting from drug and alcohol counseling to operating an adult retail store may seem unconventional, but for Randy Gill, it was a natural extension of a lifelong commitment to community engagement and accessibility. Inspired by childhood lessons on the importance of community-focused businesses, Gill envisioned Medusas as more than just a store—it’s a welcoming space designed to educate, empower and connect people.
In this interview with StorErotica Legal Correspondent Larry Kaplan, Gill shares how his counseling background and his business partner, Kristy Gabel’s nursing background influence Medusas’ unique approach to customer interactions, the challenges of navigating outdated regulations and the mission to keep products affordable for a working-class city. Medusas stands out as a community-driven business, breaking barriers in the adult retail industry and fostering an inclusive environment for a diverse customer base.
SE: Before opening Medusas, you worked as a drug and alcohol counselor (CASAC-T). What led you to shift gears and open an adult retail store over less stigmatized retail sectors?
GILL: Working in smoke shops when I was younger sparked my love for community-focused retail. While working at one of the smoke shops, I also worked with the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. I did bipartisan voter registration drives at a smoke shop. I just loved the aspect of the community that was involved. I didn’t care what party they registered for; the goal was just to get people out and voting.
My dad always emphasized how small business owners used to take care of their communities, and I wanted to bring that ethos back. Medusas is unique as a community-based adult store, with fair pricing to ensure accessibility. Growing up in poverty taught me the importance of affordability, and customers frequently compliment us on our prices.
SE: Has your counseling experience helped you as a business owner, and have any of your skills carried over to retail?
GILL: Absolutely! My background in counseling, especially with sensitive topics, makes it easier to handle personal questions about sexual health and education. Counseling taught me to navigate difficult conversations, which translates well to the adult retail environment.
Working here, it honestly feels like I’m doing counseling because at least three or four times a day, people come in and ask very personal questions. Any question you can think of has been asked here.
SE: How long did you work as a drug and alcohol counselor?
GILL: Just six months. The work is emotionally draining for anyone in the field, and the pay is unsustainable. I realized my skills were better suited for a community business setting. That way, I could remain financially stable and help my community at the same time.
My mother was an alcoholic, and when she got better, she was trying to find a job. She was applying to all these shit jobs. I said to her, “Mom, you’ll end up getting another job that’s gonna make you depressed, and you’ll end up drinking again, right back where you started. So why don’t you go back to school?” She said she was scared. Since I already had my bachelor’s in psychology, I suggested I go back to school with her and help her through her program. She agreed, so I returned to school and did the program and every class with her.
I had a saying before we even opened: you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to cum.
— Randy Gill
SE: What types of toys grab your attention at trade shows? With so many products coming out, how do you sift through everything to ensure your return on investment is being realized?
GILL: I prioritize affordability over expensive, “high-end” toys because our customers need fair pricing, and I have a hard time believing the difference in pricing reflects the difference in the item’s quality. Rochester is a working-class city, and our mission at Medusas is to make products financially accessible without sacrificing quality.
Rochester is quite literally the definition of a lower middle-class city, and our customers can’t afford $150 for a toy. There aren’t enough people who can pay that much for us to want to cater to them. I had a saying before we even opened: you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to cum.
SE: What are your top-selling toy and novelty brands and lubes?
GILL: VēDO, Blush and CalExotics are our best-selling toy brands. For lubes, Sliquid leads, followed by “Überlube and Fuck Water.
SE: What was your experience at the ALTITUDE show you attended?
GILL: The adult community is tight-knit and supportive, which I love. For example, when we faced a costly legal challenge to open the store, Blush and CalExotics supported us by donating products to help cover costs. Events like ALTITUDE are great for product selection and networking.
SE: What’s unique about your customer demographics?
GILL: We attract a diverse mix of Gen Z, millennials, women, couples and LGBTQ+ customers. Our store prioritizes making women feel safe, which naturally draws other demographics.
SE: What are the keys to profitability today, especially with online retail eating into brick-and-mortar sales?
GILL: Community engagement is key. Medusas is more than a store; it’s a space where people feel welcome. Customers often visit just to hang out or pet Tiffany, the store cat and silent partner, and we encourage that.
One unfortunate reality today is that everything feels locked behind a paywall—you can’t enjoy yourself without spending money, and I don’t think that’s fair. There was a time when you didn’t have to go into debt to have a good time, and we intend to at least try and change that on a micro level. We strive to make things different.
SE: What was your biggest surprise in opening an adult retail store?
GILL: I was shocked by how much the government sucks you dry and by the archaic local laws and regulations left over from the “Satanic Panic” era of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Additionally, modern business models often feel exploitative; gone are the days when you could own software. Now, everything is subscription-based, and they’ve made it so that you can’t function without them, which is best described as a scam.
SE: Tell me about the local anti-adult challenge you faced.
GILL: During the so-called “Satanic Panic” era there was a huge push to ban adult stores within Rochester’s city limits. This led to many outdated laws lacking common sense and seemingly enacted in a scared frenzy.
SE: Do you feel like being new to the industry gives you any advantages over more established store operators?
GILL: Yes, because we started post-COVID we adapted to the new business environment without the baggage of pre-pandemic challenges, giving us a fresh perspective.
SE: Where do you see the company in the next five years?
GILL: I’m not sure; we have so many different directions that we want to go in. We prioritize owning our building someday so our store can permanently reside there.
SE: What’s the best part of your job, and what’s the most challenging?
GILL: The best part is the ability to help people through accessible sexual education in a casual, approachable way. Sexual education in the community at large is generally rather formal and dull. We offer a very down-to-earth way of educating people about their bodies and how to enjoy themselves. It’s hard to be unique. And we get to offer people something that isn’t offered anywhere else. And that’s very gratifying.
The challenge is managing my desire to start multiple projects simultaneously and staying focused on what truly matters. Sometimes you have to reel yourself in because you realize you’ve got 14 projects going, and you’re looking around thinking, “Oh shit.”
Larry Kaplan has been the Legal Correspondent for ED Publications for 24 years. Mr. Kaplan is a broker in the sale and purchase of adult retail stores and adult nightclubs and the Executive Director of the ACE of Michigan adult nightclub state trade association. Contact Larry Kaplan at 313-815-3311 or email larry@kaplanstoresales.com.
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