2nd Tattoo Parlor To Go Before BZA; This One On Winona Avenue
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
A second tattoo parlor will go before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals for a hearing at its next meeting Aug. 26.
Nathan Prieshoff – pen name Nathan Underneath – and his business Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema, 112 E. Center St., was already scheduled for a 7 p.m. Aug. 26 hearing before the BZA for a variance request. His business is downtown Warsaw, which is zoned Commercial-4, and tattoo parlors are not permitted in a C-4 district by city ordinances.
Now Mike Lee Vest is seeking a special exception at the same hearing to allow a tattoo parlor in a Commercial-2 zone at 600 E. Winona Ave.
City ordinances allow tattoo parlors only in C-3, C-5 and Industrial-2 and I-3 zoning districts or with a special exception in a C-2.
In information provided by Vest, he says he is a licensed professional tattoo artist, born and raised in Warsaw. Over the last few years, he has worked and saved money to eventually open his own business.
“The dream is finally becoming a reality! I learned about zoning regulations and found a building in the C-2 district that meets the criteria and is in a location that is ideal for the type of business I will have,” he wrote.
His business, Empire Ink, has a mission to provide a safe and clean environment to meet all tattoo and body-piercing needs.
“When a patron walks in, they will be met with friendly staff, an atmosphere that resembles the style of New York City mid-1900s. A very relaxed lobby, portfolios of each artist, their capabilities as artists and seeing that each artist has their own private office,” he states.
Vest specializes in “color realism” but is capable of doing most other styles. He has been tattooing for over 10 years and currently tattoos at Ink Style Studio in Plymouth.
Artist Sage Powell specializes in black and grey tattoo style and also does color tattoos. He has been tattooing for eight years, currently at Liquid Ink in Osceola.
The third tattoo artist, Chad Masterson, specializes in black and grey style, enjoys sticker-style tattoos and piercing. He has been tattooing for three years, currently at Ink Style Studio, Plymouth.
Written comments for either tattoo studios’ hearings will be considered only if they are received by the city planning and building department by noon Aug. 26. The city office is at 102 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, IN 46580; and the phone number is 574-372-9550.
