Joplin has got that lovin’ feeling.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, thoughts turn to love and romance, but some Joplin businesses devote themselves to romance every day of the year.

Locals hardly need directions to one of the area’s oldest romance stores, Romantic Delights on Seventh and Forest streets. It can be found by the large red lips and pierced tongue that make up the store’s sign. Romantic Delights is one of the racier romance stores featuring a large selection of adult novelties.

“We try to get new stuff in here every week, especially the adult novelties,” said Debbie Willis, sales associate. “We ask the girls that come through here what they would like to see us get in the store.”

The store is a shopping hot-spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties because of the gag gift section, including such items as banana flavored “dick tarts,” anatomically-correct cake pans and inflatable dolls.

The store also features lingerie, clubwear, shoes and naughty greeting cards. During Valentine’s Day weekend, Romantic Delights is offering 10 percent off all purchases.

Just east of Romantic Delights on Seventh Street is a newer and less known romance store that will celebrate its one-year anniversary in June. Behind Closed Doors also carries lingerie, clubwear, swimwear and adult novelties. But, Janine Rhodes, owner, adds an additional focus to her store with extra-stimulus and massage solutions.

“I’m trying to get back into sensual massage and stuff like that,” Rhodes said.

Unlike some of the boutiques, Rhodes has also invested in a larger selection of plus-size lingerie, including sexy nurse and French maid costumes.

During Valentine’s week, Rhodes will be reducing prices throughout the store to draw customers in for what is potentially her busiest season.

Day Dreams and Night Things, located on Main and Seventh streets, is the largest romance store in Joplin and provides a more classy take on what could be a risqu business. The store offers the most diverse selection of products and services in the area. Besides the sexy but tasteful lingerie, Daydreams specializes in clubwear for men and women, including accessories like shoes, purses, belts, jewelry and stockings. Racks of lingerie are sorted by occasion: costume parties, weddings, Valentine’s Day and Christmas.

The boutique goes beyond the usual scope of services and offers a tanning salon and a boudoir photography studio.

“We’ve been busier than heck with it (photography),” said Holly Fleming, owner. “It’s a great idea. We do calendars for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. You can wear lingerie or clubwear. It’s your choice.”

Fleming said the photographs are sexy but tasteful and make wonderful gifts.

All Valentine’s merchandise will be marked down this week.

One of the largest romance store in the area is Victoria’s Secret located in Northpark Mall. The store is separated into sections for lingerie and beauty products. During February, the store comes alive with a proliferation of red and pink underwear and lingerie.

“We’ve got the hot colors, a lot of nighties that are the hot thing right now,” said Tracie Robinson, sales associate. “We’ve got the really hot, sexy lingerie, and we have the more tasteful, reserved lingerie that’s not too risqu.”

Crystal Cooke, Southern graduate and store director, said popular items this year are the men’s and women’s “Very Sexy” boxed fragrance sets featuring items like CD cases and keychains for the men and necklaces, massage oils, lip pallets and drawer sachets for the women.

“They are already wrapped, so they’re super easy,” Cooke said.

All Southern students will receive $10 off any $35 beauty purchase for their significant others, and $15 off any $50 purchase during the valentine season.