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May 12, 2009

Black Lotus Revealed

black-lotus-0509.jpg
Remember the tattoo parlor we told you would be opening on Greene Avenue between Grand and Cambridge? Well, it opened last week, complete with a swanky new awning. We chatted with the two partners in front of the store a few days ago and they told us that there would a lot of art rotating through the gallery space. We wouldn't be surprised to see some fun art-related parties taking place here either.
Clinton Hill Getting a Tattoo Parlor [Brownstoner] GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:30 AM | Comments (23)
Categories: Clinton Hill, Streetlevel

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I walked by Clovers Gallery & Coffee House on Atlantic Ave last week and the windows were covered with paper. Anybody know what's up?

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 12, 2009 9:46 AM

very excited about this - i'm probably past my prime for a tattoo, but maybe my husband will be inspired to get that miss priss tattoo he's been ruminating over for years...

Posted by: miss priss at May 12, 2009 9:50 AM

never too old

Posted by: lifer at May 12, 2009 9:55 AM

i have a few tattooes id like to get erased!

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 12, 2009 9:56 AM

Is this close to where the next Brownstoner gathering is going to be? On my way over I can get a Tramp Stamp - 'What's Bitch'

Posted by: bayridgegirl at May 12, 2009 9:57 AM

Me too, BRG.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 12, 2009 10:00 AM

any names associated with this place yet?

Posted by: lifer at May 12, 2009 10:11 AM

I wonder which store will go out of business first, this tattoo parlor or Choice Greene (always empty) next door?

Posted by: Art Salt at May 12, 2009 10:11 AM

Got it, Jaz (my tattoo sleuthing) , formerly from Black Star Tattoo, I think he split for Cali for a few years and is back.

http://www.blackstartattoostudio.com/indexx/gallery.htm

http://www.myspace.com/jaztattoo


Posted by: lifer at May 12, 2009 10:19 AM

art, i think tattoo shops fall under the umbrella of recession proof businesses tho, no?

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 12, 2009 10:26 AM

tattoo parlor recession proof? we will see...they were still illegal in NYC during the last big recession.

Posted by: Art Salt at May 12, 2009 11:22 AM

Cool awning. Looks nice from the outside, regardless as to whether you're in the market for a tatoo.

Posted by: 1842 at May 12, 2009 11:26 AM


That's a tough storefront to make work. It's changed hands repeatedly for as long as I can recall. We'll see how long this lasts.

Posted by: East New York at May 12, 2009 11:46 AM

I met the guys that are running this place not to long ago at Brooklyn Public House. They had just signed the lease that night and seemed super excited. They were nice.

Posted by: mksk at May 12, 2009 11:59 AM

yes, very nice

Posted by: brownstoner at May 12, 2009 12:08 PM

Jaz is a great guy, he would throw events at Sputnik alot.
As far as recession proof,.. people who are poor or rich, happy or sad, doctors or janitors, and eveyone in between all get tattooed, thank the lord we (and most shops) take credit cards.

Posted by: lifer at May 12, 2009 12:28 PM

The outside looks good!
I would check place out if I finally decide on my next tattoo

Posted by: gemini10 at May 12, 2009 1:17 PM

ENY, I think you are mistaken. I did my laundry for many years at the place next door that is now Choice. This store was a barber shop for many, many years, then was empty for many years. There was an item here on Brownstoner a couple of years ago that it was going to be a yoga studio, but that never panned out and it stayed vacant.

Posted by: rf at May 12, 2009 1:43 PM

i was in choice greene today and it was doing good business. They're doing something really smart - they are selling some of the pre-made lunch/dinner stuff that they usually have at choice, but without the lines...! the sushi is also delicious and cheaper than sushi D.
ps. I think that all those people who said we NEEDED stuff like this in the neighborhood need to make sure they pick up their stuff there, instead of freshdirect, fairway, etc - the prices are totally competitive, contrary to what some would say who on principle are opposed to "gentrifying" types of shops.

Posted by: miss priss at May 12, 2009 1:51 PM

"This store was a barber shop for many, many years, then was empty for many years."

Yes, I know. I used to get my hair cut there, in fact, during the era Nelson George described in his NY Times article a few weeks back. During the same period, a friend of mine opened a soul food restaurant in what is now the Choice Greene space; it was very much "the place to be" among our set at that time. And like you said after the barber shop closed, the storefront was vacant for some time. I guess that's what I meant by "changing hands." In any event, I think your post confirms my point that the location is no sure thing. We'll see how they make out.

Posted by: East New York at May 12, 2009 2:55 PM

ENY, are you sure about the address? I lived around the corner on Grand from 1989 to 2007 and the Choice Greene store was a laundromat until around 2005 when the last owner of the business stopped paying his bills and stiffed the workers, who were long-timers in the neighborhood. It was empty until Choice rented it.

The corner store went through several owners over the years and was empty for a while around 2003 (? date?) until it reopened a couple of years later. The salon upstairs from the laundromat and then Choice was open almost all that time, although the barber downstairs (where the tattoo parlor is now) always seemed busier. After they closed, I assumed that the owner of the space was just asking much more rent than was realistic.

Posted by: rf at May 12, 2009 4:27 PM

I'm doing this from memory rf, so I can't give you the exact address, but I am pretty sure about that general location and those buildings off from the corner. If it's the place I'm thinking about it's directly across the street from a small park.

Posted by: East New York at May 12, 2009 5:03 PM

No, it's not. The stores are on Greene between Grand and Cambridge Place, which ends there. Across the street, there is a liquor store on the corner, then a long row of brownstones all the way to St. James.

Posted by: rf at May 12, 2009 6:01 PM

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