Like a tattoo

Have folks been following the discussion over on Patch with regard to the proposed Tattoo shop on Webster.   I should say third shop, since there are already two tattoo shops in Alameda on or near Webster Street.

Amazingly enough I thought that people would just be cranky in general about a Tattoo shop opening up because they didn’t like tattoos, but rather the conversation has also centered around the shop not being “authentic enough” since the owner isn’t a tattoo artist himself and that he shouldn’t be attempting to compete with the other two existing tattoo shops.

W. T. F.

Look, I’m not covered in tattoos, I’m largely apathetic to tattoos.   My husband got one before I met him and he now refers to it as a “mistake.”  So much so that #1 daughter used to think that tattoos were actually called “mistakes” and referred to a stranger’s tattoo as a “mistake.”   But for the life of me I cannot understand what the big deal is about not wanting this tattoo parlor on Webster.   I understand the complaint that Park Street has rules against having tattoo parlors on the ground floors and I think it’s pretty unfair that the rules aren’t more consistent throughout the business districts, but those arguments should have been brought before the City Council back when they modified the ordinances, not when some dude is trying to open a legitimate business in an dead retail space.

The shop, called “Inkies”, was part of a Patch Video profile, you can watch it here and looks like a pretty professional operation.  It has a five star average rating on Yelp with more than 100 reviews.   Not too shabby.

The sad part about the discussion on Patch was that the purported owner has decided (or said he would) pull his application.   As of yesterday afternoon the application had not been pulled and honestly, I hope that the owner doesn’t pull it.   For a city and its citizens who purport to be so hungry for business, particularly small businesses, it is pretty obnoxious when it pushes away a legitimate business simply because other owners fear competition or it’s not the right “image” for the area.   I’ll point out that of a survey of the other businesses owners on Webster Street, apparently the majority didn’t want the tattoo parlor either and some of the comments were from the other tattoo parlors in the Webster Street area who, surprise surprise, didn’t want the competition.

The fact is, all of the businesses that people want to relocate to Alameda just aren’t going to do it because we wish hard enough.  If a tattoo parlor has done its due diligence and feels as though they can make money in Alameda, I don’t see what the problem is.   If Inkies wants to open a shop that can mainstream tattooing, good for them, as long as the zoning is proper and all their paperwork is in order, what valid reason would the City have to reject their application?   Because people don’t like the idea of a third tattoo shop on Webster?

The additionally sad part, if Inkies does pull their application, is the fact that according to the owner, several of his tattoo artists live in Alameda and have families here.   And isn’t that exactly what we want, for people who live here to be able to work here as well?

If Inkies does open shop in Alameda, then some enterprising businessperson should open the next logical business: tattoo removal.