(LAS VEGAS) -- Adam & Eve Stores, the retail division of erotic empire Adam & Eve, is pleased to announce it received the ''Retailer of the Year'' Award at last night’s Storerotica Awards.

''We are extremely proud of this achievement,'' said Jason Hoke, General Manager for Adam & Eve’s Franchise Department. ''To be recognized by our peers, and to be in the company of such successful stores as Hustler and Castle, is an honor in itself.''

Hoke, who was on hand to accept the award, credits his 28 stores in nine states with helping put the Adam & Eve Retail Division on the map.

''Adam & Eve has been around for nearly 40 years,'' said Hoke. ''We started as the first adult mail order company, then were one of the first adult retailers on the internet with www.adameve.com . We have a long history or ‘firsts’ and I see the Adam & Eve Stores as the next progression in this list of successes.''

With franchise agreements for 70 additional stores, and current stores opening monthly and spanning coast to coast, Hoke plans on a total of 50 retail stores being open by the end of 2009.

The Storerotica Awards were held Wednesday, August 27, at the Joint nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Besides ''Retailer of the Year,'' other awards were given for such categories as ''Adult Novelty Manufacturer of the Year'' and ''Adult Film Studio of the Year.''

For more information on Adam & Eve or Adam & Eve Stores, please contact Adam & Eve Director of Public Relations Katy Zvolerin at 919.644.8100 x 3121 or katy@adameve.com