‘You can fine me all you want, it’s not coming down: RV dealer faces down NC town leaders over US flag size

The latest flag fight marked another win for the immigrant star of CNBC’s “The Profit” after he refused to back down and forced one city’s hand.

In October 2024, Lebanese-American businessman Marcus Lemonis, the chairman and CEO of Camping World, was issued notice that his store’s location in Greenville, North Carolina was in violation due to the size of the American flag on the property. As of mid-January, fines started to be issued, prompting the patriotic philanthropist to hold his ground for yet another victory.

Saturday, WCTI News 12 anchor Tyler Hardin reported that Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly (R) issued a statement detailing, “Today at our planning session the city council voted unanimously to direct staff to develop an ordinance to allow the flag at Camping World to fly. It should never have come to this but thankfully our beautiful American flag will continue to fly.”

That decision came after Camping World had been issued six citations as of Friday, totaling to $1,150 fines after an initial $50 citation had been followed with a $100 fine and $250 fines thereafter because the flag was said to be nearly 15 times larger than what the city allowed.

“The flag is not coming down. You can fine me all you want City of Greenville North Carolina,” Lemonis wrote on X, captioning the notice of civil penalty from the city with the hashtag “NoAmericanFlagIsTooBig.”

According to the notice, the flag was said to be 40′ x 80′ amounting to 3,200 square feet on a pole 130 feet tall, 50 feet taller than the permissible 70-foot pole.

“Violators shall be issued a written citation which must be paid within 72 hours. If a person fails to pay the civil penalty within 72 hours, the city may recover the penalty together with all costs by filing a civil action in the general court of justice in the nature of a suit to collect a debt,” the citation told the business owner.

In response, Friday, Lemonis added, “Dear @GreenvilleNC, I left messages for the planning department. I’m happy to meet next Friday at 2pm eastern. I’ll come to you. Mr. Mayor Connelly please join us. I’ll wait to hear from you.”

The Lebanon-born CEO who was adopted by American parents had previously tousled with local jurisdictions over flags flown above Camping World, including an instance in Statesville, North Carolina, and a dispute in California’s San Joaquin County.

“I happen to be an immigrant,” he said at the time of the California fight for the flag. “I was given the blessing of being able to enter this country and become a citizen, and I’m grateful for it, and it’s been part of my life since I was a little child down in Miami, Florida where we had the largest flag pole in Miami at our car dealership.”

Upon securing the win in North Carolina, Lemonis shared an image from the location amid support and wrote, “Thank you @GreenvilleNC for your reconsideration. We are all grateful.”

Kevin Haggerty

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