Tattoo shop not welcomed by everyone

Tattoo shop not welcomed by everyone
Article by: SlingerVille Staff
October 11, 2012

When you own a business, location can be vital in whether or not you succeed.

Two business professionals feel that Punta Gorda, Florida is the place where their business will flourish, the only issue is that one of them doesn’t feel that the other business belongs.

At Othersideink, each tattoo is a piece of art, custom made just like the art hung in their shop.

The owners are trying to relocate from the middle of Charlotte County to downtown Punta Gorda.

"It's a very artsy part of town, its becoming very art oriented," explains Justin Brown, from Othersideink.

The owner of Serendipity Salon and Spa also wants to move to downtown Punta Gorda and start offering a wide variety of new treatments in a larger space.

"Everybody likes to have their business in a place where it will be enhanced," says Sue Redmond, the owner.

Both businesses wanted to rent from the Herald Court Center. This week, the community redevelopment agency gave both businesses the green light to draw up leases.

"In that same moment of feeling triumphant, I felt a little deflated," Redmond says of learning OthersideInk is applying to rent the space next door.

The image Redmond has for her salon doesn't include being neighbors with a tattoo shop. "If the tattoo establishment does go in, we will withdraw our offer and look at other space," Redmond says.

Brown is used to dealing with people with this sort of behavior.

"It's sad that there's still that kind of stuff going on, but it's society, it's not just Punta Gorda," the tattoo artist says. Adding that his clients are very supportive of the move.

When it comes to renting spaces downtown, Mayor Bill Albers says he's looking for people-centric businesses that will bring visitors to the city center.

He feels that both of these businesses meet that standard.

"[We look for] things that will bring in different people every day. And a fair amount of people who will then go to other shops," Albers explains.

Even if they won’t be neighbors at Herald Court Center, the mayor still look forward to both businesses in the town.

He doesn't expect the CRA to choose a side in the spa vs. tattoo debate when the leases come back before the committee for a vote.

He's confident both businesses will end up downtown.

"If she [Redmond] opts not to move in, she'll move into some other space also within the city, so it's just fine," he says.

Source: http://www.nbc-2.com/story/19750277/debate

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