New Tattoo Shop Proposed for Webster Street

The City of Alameda Planning Board will hear the application for a new tattoo business on Webster Street on Monday, Jan. 9.

The proposed location is at 1537 Webster St., the current site of .

The business would be the second site of a successful, Fremont-based store, called Inkies Tattoo Studio, which offers custom tattoos and specializes in Asian, Americana and Polynesian art. 

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Inkies would be Alameda's third tattoo business, according to the city staff report, joining  at 1543 Webster St. and Alameda Tattoo at 650 Haight Ave.

If the permit is approved, will continue to run a repair business in the rear of the ground floor and the sale of vehicles will be discontinued.

"The applicant seeks a use permit to operate a tattoo business within an existing two-story commercial building," reads the Planning Board's agenda. "The proposed business will serve customers by appointment and walk-in service daily from noon to 10 p.m. with five employees per shift."

The Fremont Inkies, which opened in Feb. 2009 is described on the permit application as a “high-end” custom “tattoo salon” that will provide "quality upscale experience" in a "bright, clean, safe, comfortable" setting. It will also provide piercings. 

Inkies owner Robert Arquero said he was drawn to Alameda as the second site for his growing business because three of his artists are from Alameda, the city's central East Bay location, and the diversity and charm of the Island.

"Alameda is so beautiful and so nice and the people are so diverse," Arquero said. "It’s a great location for us the way we run our business."

He says that if the permit is approved, he looks forward to becoming a part of the community as he has in Fremont where, he says, his popular studio draws people from all over the Bay Area and world.

"We have people from New Zealand, Germany, Alaska, and all over California — just yesterday we had one of the Oakland Raiders come in," Arquero said.

The city staff report (you can read the whole thing by clicking on the PDF to the right) recommends approval of the business permit, based on several factors, including compatability with neighboring businesses and with the City of Alameda's general plan.

According to the memo, city staff has received one negative comment about Inkies — a concern about parking from the owner of the Neptune Palace Hotel at 1546 Webster Street. The West Alameda Business Association has conducted a member survey and will present the results to the Planning Board, the staff report notes. 

The meeting will be at City Hall Chambers at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9. You can find the agenda and relevant documents on the City's website here. 

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