Delray Beach city leaders will consider a proposal next week to open its first tattoo studio.
Rebecca Loveless, who runs Tradition Tattoo in Boca Raton, got one tattoo and was hooked. Now, she’s the artist in control of the ink.
Loveless wants to relocate to a strip mall near Federal Highway and Avenue L in Delray Beach.
“I’ve always had this dream of bringing my shop home,” said Loveless, a Delray Beach resident.
Her dream is hitting some roadblocks. Delray Beach doesn’t have any tattoo shops or rules regulating them.
“I think it’s just a matter of time before people get on board with what’s already coming,” Loveless said.
This spring, the planning and zoning board approved her request to open her tattoo studio in Delray Beach.
But in April, the city commission decided to take a closer look at the issue. Commissioners delayed making a decision on the matter in May but will take up the matter again Tuesday.
Commissioners have said they want rules to limit where shops can and cannot set up. At the April meeting, the mayor said he wouldn’t want to see these shops downtown.
“I'm hoping that our planning department and our legal department are looking into a way we can limit or prohibit those uses we don’t desire,” Delray Beach Mayor Cary Glickstein said.
Bruce Gorczycki, who runs Solid Image Tattoos north of Delray Beach, told NewsChannel 5 that allowing one shop in Delray Beach will lead to a snowball of tattoo studios all over the city.
“Atlantic Avenue is the golden egg,” Gorczycki said. “There’s no one there, and it’s nonstop business. Somebody will open on Atlantic Avenue.”
In documents submitted to the city, an attorney of Loveless cited a recent court case out of Key West.
The judge ruled the city of Key West could not keep tattoo studios out of the historic area because they are protected under free speech.
Loveless is optimistic she can start a new tradition in Delray Beach.
“I feel great. I feel really good,” said Loveless.