Speakers Split On Proposal During Hearing
The Lexington Planning Commission signed off on a conditional use permit to allow a tattoo and piercing shop to operate in Washington Street’s “Gallery Row” in the city’s historic downtown in a 5-0 vote on July 9.
The proposed shop will operate at 25 W. Washington St., which was recently the location for Mulberry’s DIY Workshop.
The proposal from Frank O’Roark, the business partner who applied for the conditional use permit, would have two permanent tattoo stations with a third flex station for guest artists and a private piercing station. The one condition recommended by the city planning department was to limit the number of stations to those proposed by the applicant.
In a statement provided to the planning department, O’Roark noted that the owner of the business and its primary artist, Ernest Freeman Martin, has previously owned and operated a tattoo parlor in Richmond and has “managed multiple high-volume studios across the state without a single regulatory infraction.” For the past three years, he has been working at a tattoo parlor in Blacksburg.
When speaking to the Planning Commission Thursday, O’Roark noted that tattoo parlors can benefit neighboring businesses and boost the local economy of the cities and towns where they are located.
“Customers visiting a tattoo studio don’t simply arrive and leave,” he said. “They often dine in local restaurants, shop in nearby stores and spend time exploring the area before and after their appointments. That additional activity benefits the entire business district. “This proposal is not about changing the identity of Lexington,” he continued. “It’s about filling an unmet need with a clean, licensed, and professionally operated business that respects and values the appearance of this historic community while contributing to its economic vitality.”
Martin also spoke, answering questions from the Planning Commission. He said that the majority of the tattoo services would be done by appointment, though he was open to allowing walk-in customers. The piercing services would be primarily walk-in, though in some specific cases – such as a minor being accompanied by a parent – an appointment would be required.
He also noted that tattoo and piercing studios are subject to inspections by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to ensure that the studio is operating safely and cleanly per state regulations. Martin is a licensed tattooist through DPOR, and said that the department offers a temporary license that would be available to guest artists who are coming from out of state to work at the shop.
Martin also addressed potential concerns and preconceived notions about what tattoo shops are like and noted that they have changed over the years.
“When I first started getting tattooed in the early-to-mid 90s, it was a lot more of what people probably think of when they think of a tattoo shop,” he said. “Tattooing has shifted towards more of an art-based crowd and that’s kind of where my interest in it really lies, with tattooing as an American folk art. Which is another reason I think it would be great amongst the galleries in Lexington. If people were walking by and were just curious, I know a lot about tattoo history and I have a lot of tattoo artifacts. I would love for people to come in and see what tattooing is as an American folk art and learn about the history of it and learn how its changed and kind of get a feel for where it’s going.”
Several people expressed support for the tattoo parlor during the public hearing on the conditional use permit Thursday night and several residents and downtown business owners submitted written comments in favor of it ahead of the meeting.
Crystal Demott, owner of Lex Nail Bar & Salon at 31 W. Washington St., said that the tattoo parlor could “be a fun addition” to that block, which she said is “really turning into an arts district.”
“Some of our guests that come to the nail salon, of all ages, have tattoos,” she said. “They travel out of town for tattoos, seeking very specific artists for specific work. I think that would be a great addition, to have some artists here that they could consider.”
Savannah Dorey, who also works at Lex Nail Bar and has tattoos of her own, added that “it would be a perfect addition to all the art galleries around [Lexington],” calling tattooing “a complete form of art.”
“You have to be an artist to be able to produce these products and these images,” she said. “I really enjoy getting tattoos. I’ve had to go to Staunton, Roanoke, Richmond [or] Waynesboro to get tattoos and it would be amazing to have it literally next door to me. I think they would do amazing there if they had the chance.”
Red Dowdell, owner of Rockbridge Barbell on North Main Street, said that this is “an opportunity to welcome not only a new business to our town, but also a new generation of customers.”
“We talk all the time about how Lexington is an aging population, and it’s a real problem that a lot of what we have going on downtown is not suited for younger folks,” he said. “This is an opportunity to welcome these folks in with open arms. If we want younger folks around and doing stuff, this is a great way to get those people out and about.”
There were some speakers who spoke against the shop, and while they all supported the idea of a tattoo parlor in Lexington, the concerns were primarily based on whether the downtown business district would be the best location for it.
“We have a lot of tourists that come to Lexington,” said Michael Perry. “We have a lot of parents from W&L and VMI and lots of tourists that are interested in history. … I think this business would be better suited out in one of the shopping centers rather than in the downtown historic districts where I think we need to maintain the character and the brand of Lexington.”
“There’s a limited number of commercial spaces in downtown, and some of the new renovations are limiting even more of that,” said Jody Mask, owner of the building at 20 W. Washington St. where Cupcake Heaven operates. “[Martin] is a very nice gentleman, and I hope that he has a very successful business in Rockbridge County, and I believe that he can. … But in maintaining that historic vibe in downtown … I don’t think this is consistent with what is truly needed.”
During the Commission’s discussion, Krista Anderson, who has several tattoos, said that, for her and her wife, when they’ve gone to get tattoos, they have walked around the area around the shop while waiting for the artist to set up for their appointment.
“Almost every tattoo I have ever been a part of has been a family affair that everybody comes, but you can’t sit around and watch the person get tattooed because that’s so boring until the end,” she said. “And so you wander around and you do these different things.
“I understand some of the comments of it being maybe in Lexington but not in our historic district,” she continued, “but they’re either going to be walking around Dollar General and Don Tequilia or they’re going to be walking around our historic district. If you have a 30 minute wait before your tattoo while the artist is getting ready, you’re not going to drive somewhere. You’re going to walk around. You’re going to see what’s around there. And if we put it somewhere else, they’re going to walk the strip mall around Wal-Mart or they’re going to walk [the] historic downtown.”
Leslie Straughan made the motion to approve the conditional use permit, and Charlie Hall provided the second. The motion carried in a 5-0 vote with members John Eastwood and Shannon Spencer not in attendance.
The conditional use permit will go to City Council for final approval at a future meeting.
