Mayor: More tattoo shops could undermine fragile downtown growth

Shop owner: Stigma misplaced

Jeff Roberts carefully inks the outline of a fairy onto Taniel Jones’ right thigh Friday at Capital Tattoo Co. on High Street. Roberts has been a tattoo artist for 33 years, three years longer than the birthday Jones was commemorating. While tattoo parlors are now legal in Jefferson City, Mayor John Landwehr has asked the city council to investigate zoning the downtown area off-limits to future tattoo parlors. Photo by Kelley McCall.

By Ben Yarnell

Sunday, November 21, 2010

It all started with a simple phrase. At an October brown-bag meeting of the Jefferson City Council, while discussing the hours during which tattoo studios can be open, Mayor John Landwehr made a passing mention about looking into possible zoning procedures that could prevent any more studios from setting up in the downtown district.

“There are other places in the city that these businesses can go,” Landwehr said during the Oct. 15 meeting. “The downtown area is what we call fragile.”

“I don’t think people want to live next to tattoo parlors,” Landwehr said.

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JCsleeper 2 years, 6 months ago

Some folks desiring loft apartments might not want to live next to law offices. A bit pompous aren't we? A tattoo parlor with a nice storefront looks much better than an vacancy, Wonder if an downtown dress code will be next?

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

These people have totally lost it. I can't imagine why anyone would want to move here.

Would we all go straight to hell if we had a tatoo shop uptown?

rodinman 2 years, 6 months ago

Mayor, move your law practice to the boonies as some of us don't want to be near lawyers.

pepperslady 2 years, 6 months ago

People in JC have always been so uppity. What difference does it make if there is a tattoo shop uptown? Is the great Mayor Landwehr suggesting that tattoo parlors uptown would bring an undesired level of people uptown? JC has probably lost thousands of tax dollars over the last several years by banning tattoo parlors; most of the people desiring body art or piercings have traveled to surrounding cities to get what they wanted. Quite frankly, I am 60 yrs old, no tattoos, no body piercings and do not want any; however, I think this is one of the most ridiculous laws I have ever seen! And, Mayor John Landwehr, one of the most biased statement ever by a public figure.

Dskel 2 years, 6 months ago

Give me a break! Let's just fill downtown JC with office spaces as far as the eye can see. There is already one parlor downtown, so do they really think there will be that many more? Also, I've walked/driven past these shops and haven't seen any "unsavory" individuals causing a disturbance or loitering outside. Not only are these places forced to operate during the stupidest hours for a tattoo shop to be open, but now they'll have to stay away from downtown, too. My 70 year old father is right, I need to get out of here. Even he thinks this city is lame.

hbic 2 years, 6 months ago

Your Holt Summit pastor Freaktown Rice drug the feces into Jeff City and long, LONG time ago. The mayor is an idi0t if he thinks that a tattoo parlor is going to make JC go to pot. Should have thought about that when Freaktown was dragging all of the St. Louis homeless down here!

hbic 2 years, 6 months ago

Amen JClifer. I couldn't agree more.

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

Mayor ought to be worrying more about bringing some high-paying jobs into this town instead of saving us from wicked tattoo parlors. The governor is gonna cut another $700 million and 3,000 more jobs in a few months. Rome is burning and Nero is throwing fits about tattooists.

Whut_A_Joke 2 years, 6 months ago

I simply wonder if the Mayor ever goes out at night in downtown? Has he ever counted how many establishments sell alcohol and the drunks that come out of those?? Those people cause more damage to the community as a whole than what a tattoo parlor or someone who is getting a tattoo ever would. The guy is an id10t and a xenophobic... He needs to be voted out and someone who is more in touch with todays generation and is more sympathetic to others ideas instead of only promoting his agenda.

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

I'll bet the geezer at the Bank is behind this too

Dskel 2 years, 6 months ago

I'm afraid most of the citizens of JC (myself excluded) wouldn't be happy about a riverfront casino, either.

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

So sad.

Gotigers 2 years, 6 months ago

asb 2 years, 6 months ago

Joe, don't forget that he's also the same mayor who got the city's only bus transfer point, and all but one route, moved out of downtown. Why? Well let's have a look at the ethnicity medical issues and economic status of your basic bus patron . . . but at least Jefferson City's three upper middle cls white people who wish to take the bus downtown can do so. It's amazing what a hired-gun consultant can accomplish against all common sense, transportation standards and the experience (free for the asking) of countless other cities; just to get "those people" out of sight.

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