Good news for motorcycle enthusiasts, those who like their art on their bodies and people who want to shock their parents: Acme Tattoo is moving to the Corner.
The tattoo parlor, which constantly posts funky flyers all over Grounds, is currently located on Allied Street, across the street from the skate park and the headquarters of the Charlottesville-Albemarle rescue squad.
But proprietor Tim Forbus feels that the out-of-the-way location cuts into the parlor's student business.
"There's not a lot of walk-in traffic," Forbus said. "So we're taking it to where the people are."
Forbus plans to move this weekend, and anticipates opening on Tuesday the Elliewood Avenue location, which will replace a shop that formerly sold skating gear. The old Acme shop will no longer be open for business.
Forbus has been interested in the location since before he opened Acme's current location two and a half years ago. But the owner of the new building was reluctant to sign the lease over, Forbus said.
The current move has been in the works for the last two or three months.
Forbus said current student traffic is mostly by appointment, and mostly for tattoos.
Acme's piercer works half-time and only by appointment, and Forbus feels that many students don't want to wait for a scheduled time.
"It's the instant gratification culture," Forbus said.
He hopes the new location will alleviate this problem by enticing more walk-in traffic.
Forbus decided to open his own tattoo parlor after becoming dissatisfied with the sanitary practices of other places he worked.
He's been a tattoo artist for six years, during which time he's taken several courses with the Virginia state medical examiner.
"I'm a real fanatic about preventing cross-contamination," Forbus said.
He also enjoys the creative freedom of owning his own tattoo business.
"Most of our drawing we do ourselves," Forbus said. "It's custom artwork."
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