Tat’s All, Folks: Main Street Tattoo Closes
Ed Fuentes
The only art left at Main Street Tattoo is this uncompleted piece by Emmeric Konard, who recently did the mural on the glass of the Down & Out at 5th and Spring.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Main Street Tattoo has removed its large blue sign off the front of their parlor. Inside, all that is left is a few chairs, some boxes, and an unfinished Emmeric Konard wall painting in the restroom.
Yet co-owner Edgar Ibarra says it wasn’t a downturn in the business of using body parts as canvas that closed his doors, but disagreements with building management and night film crews.
“It was a good run,” says Ibarra, who has no current plans to open a new parlor. “It was also the longest I’ve been in one place.”
When Main Street Tattoos first opened back in November 2007, the ink parlor was thought––or feared––to be a throwback to Main Street’s previous life, when the drag was filled with pawnshops, bars, and run-down theaters.
Those fears didn't pan out, and the place seemed to fit in fine with the hipster segment of the Old Bank District’s population.
Interestingly, Main Street Tattoo credit themselves as the first non-gallery business to invite artists and musicians to use the sidewalk fronting their store during Downtown Art Walk.
If so, the tattoo parlor made a permanent mark on Art Walk, for better or worse, by opening the gates for others to join the grassroots walk at street level.
Matt K on February 03, 2010, at 11:03AM – #1
Is there a new tenant lined up? Wonder what the lease rate is there.
bromike666 on February 03, 2010, at 11:44AM – #2
Someone needs to grab the EK piece, he rocks.
General Jeff on February 03, 2010, at 12:54PM – #3
For the record, the mural at Down & Out's was mostly done by Emmeric Konard. But, the most northern piece (starting from where the sliding glass door is) was done by "Crushow" from the Skid Row Artist's Collective (SRAC), who is also a member of the Skid Row 3on3 Streetball League.
Both of these artist's are extremely talented in their own right.
One can better appreciate the entire piece that much more after understanding that two separate artist's collaborated by using the same theme on this one piece.
ZELIE on February 03, 2010, at 01:06PM – #4
THAT'S A BUMMER! GOT MY TATS DONE THERE!
Ravi on February 03, 2010, at 06:32PM – #5
rats.
downtownian on February 04, 2010, at 09:41AM – #6
rumor is that another bakery is looking to snatch up the place.
Ravi on February 04, 2010, at 06:53PM – #7
Hey Ed! Let's get some ink done!
Ed Fuentes on February 04, 2010, at 08:17PM – #8
Hmm. How about "Live. Die. Downtown."
Guest on March 04, 2010, at 10:00AM – #9
does anyone know where they move to?