Business & Tech

Tattoo Parlor Trying to Come to Mt. Airy

An application for a tattoo parlor came to the WMAN zoning board Wednesday.

A tattoo parlor could be coming to Mt. Airy, if a late November city zoning meeting rules in its favor.

Two Northeast business owners presented an application that would, if approved by city zoning officials, bring a tattoo parlor to the 7100 block of Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy.

One of the shop's owners, Eric Flynn, said that he saw a need for a tattoo parlor on the Avenue.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"It's a diverse neighborhood but there isn't a tattoo place here," he said. "This seems like a really artistic neighborhood."

For Flynn to be able to move his parlor into the neighborhood, the city zoning board will have to allow an exception for his shop to operate in a building that is zoned residential.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

According to Flynn, the parlor would be open from 12 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and that he would be willing to augment the shop's hours on Sunday to accommodate church crowds.

"We don't want to be somewhere we aren't wanted, but I think we'd be a great benefit to the community," he said.

Flynn presented the board with a letter of support from Reverend Aisha Brooks at Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church, which is adjacent to the proposed tattoo parlor.

"I think that, in the current cultural climate, there would be no problem with a parlor in a church on the same corner," she said in her letter.

Board chair Ralph Pinkus said that the zoning board would review the application before making a recommendation, but cautioned Flynn that the city zoning board might have more intensive questions.

"Be prepared," he said. "You've told us you wouldn't be an offensive use, but be prepared for the coming hearing and having to satisfy zoning criteria."

The tattoo parlor will appear before the city zoning board at the end of the month.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airy