Golden Rule Tattoo is expanding its store to allow a more accommodating and spacious atmosphere for the artists.
The shop, which opened July 3, 2009, is nearing the end of expanding its 400-square-foot space, located near Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue, into the vacant space next to it.
“If you’ve ever been to The Golden Rule, the nicest way to put it is it’s cozy,” owner and tattoo artist Jason Anthony said. “We had to put a lobby, four stations, a clean room, a bathroom and storage in 400 square feet.”
He said that although it has been a workable space for three and a half years, it’s just not enough anymore.
“There was definitely problems that came with such a small area to work in, but we have the volume in business to necessitate doing this expansion,” Anthony said.
Anthony also pointed out another problem they have encountered: accommodation of walk-ins from clients wanting spur-of-the-moment tattoos.
“(We) are booked out several months in advance and it’s getting harder and harder for us to take walk-ins … and with the expansion and the addition of the new artists it’s going to alleviate a lot of those problems,” he said.
Christopher Robin, a tattoo artist who has been with the shop since it opened, pointed out the stress that comes with working in a small space.
“When you have people on top of people, on top of people, it just kind of gets a little annoying,” he said.
Robin said more space for each artist would make life a lot easier.
“We won’t be as on top of each other, which means less bickering or things like that,” he said.
The expanded shop will have six tattooing stations that will allow for two more artists and a larger drawing area.
There will also be a sizeable clean room with a separate scrub room for cleaning and storing products and a lobby with a functioning counter top.
Mike Fite, one of the shop’s newest tattoo artists, hasn’t been able to have a permanent space at Golden Rule since he started tattooing there a few months ago. He said he is excited to have a “home base” to work from.
“It’s nice to be able to come back to a group of people that you work with instead of coming back to your own private studio,” Fite said.
All aspects of the expansion will improve the shop, from the clientele basis to the over-all feel at Golden Rule, Robin said.
“We already have such a wide clientele basis … it’s better the more that we can get soccer moms comfortable next to bikers,” he said. “We want to just be able to appeal to the entire populous, not just a one-niche market.”
Anthony said the surrounding neighborhood has grown since they opened their doors.
“I love this neighborhood … it was on its way up when we stepped in. I think it’s great for this area and we’re happy to be a part of that,” Anthony said.
He said the shop plans on having a soft re-open mid-March and a customer appreciation barbecue in the beginning of April to celebrate their grand re-opening.
Contact the reporter at cpatel6@asu.edu
