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No tattoo parlors in town centers : Councilman proposes outlawing certain businesses in 3 sites

By ERIN COX and SEAN PATRICK NORRIS Staff Writers

Published 02/09/08

Concerned that unsavory businesses would take root in the county's three town centers, a councilman has proposed outlawing new tattoo parlors, billiard halls and fortune tellers there.

Councilman Ed Middlebrooks said he introduced a bill to keep the town centers family-friendly. But tattoo-parlor owners say they run clean, safe operations and they are unfairly targeted.

"If he wants to clean up Glen Burnie, he can start with the (expletive) sidewalk," said Mick Michili-Beasley, co-owner of the Dragon Moon Tattoo Studio in the Glen Burnie Town Center.

For 30 years the shop has made its home in the town center on Crain Highway. It appears clean and inviting, and the business sponsors a youth baseball team each spring. It has earned a reputation among tattoo artists as a stand-up operation.

Mark "Spanky" Stewart, a piercing artist and longtime employee of Full Coverage Color in Annapolis, said Dragon Moon was among the first shops in the county to belong to the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, which requires all tattoo artists complete intense pathogen-training. Mr. Stewart added that tattoo clientele has markedly changed over time.

"You're not going to find a bunch of vagrants and drunks paying $150 an hour for a high-quality, custom tattoo," Mr. Stewart said.

Mr. Middlebrooks contends the bill, introduced late last month, is not about forcing Dragon Moon out, and the shop would be allowed to stay. Rather, the bill is about attracting other types of businesses to set up shop.

"We don't want to see the town centers deteriorate, especially in Glen Burnie," Mr. Middlebrooks said, adding the two tattoo parlors near the town center are sufficient. "I just don't want more of those businesses flourishing."

The county's three town centers in Glen Burnie, Parole, and one planned for Odenton are commercial centers meant to spur economic growth. They enjoy special zoning rules and often get government funding to upgrade or expand, but the town centers are subject to scrutiny from public committees.

The Glen Burnie Town Center, the county's oldest town center, was approved in 1980 and at times has struggled to become the vibrant business district envisioned for the 44 acres at Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard and Crain Highway.

According to county records, state and local governments injected $24 million of public funds into the project and attracted $25 million from private investors to reinvigorate the town center.

"I think the whole idea behind the legislation is to protect the integrity of the town centers, to give that family-friendly feeling," said Fran Schmidt, the executive director of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Schmidt also serves on the Glen Burnie Town Center Advisory Committee, which reviews plans and recommends ideas for the town center.

"The idea is that we wouldn't want businesses that wouldn't promote a wholesome, family atmosphere," Ms. Schmidt said.

The bill that would outlaw tattoo parlors in town centers would also restrict pool halls, psychics, tarot card readers, palm readers and arcades. Elsewhere in the county those businesses would still be permitted in most commercial districts.

Rob Magruder, general manager of Sharky's Rock n' Sports Bar & Grille in Annapolis, argues that pool halls can be family-friendly enterprises.

"You get families in here on pool nights," Mr. Magruder said. "It just doesn't make sense."

Mr. Magruder's business is also a restaurant and sports bar and would not be affected by the legislation, which is up for public hearing on at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Arundel Center.

But he resents his type of business being proposed for restriction, saying "it's not like we're a strip club."

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figures - 2008-07-07 14:45:11

anyone wonder how dragonmoon did it to stay void of this new legislation, again?

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hayze gruphen - baltimore, MD - Karma: Bad

Lets ban everything - 2008-02-20 10:23:39

Lets just get it over with and ban everything and force everyone to be a good little drone.

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K. Overman - arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

Law makers make no sense - 2008-02-19 23:40:33

Dragon Moon has been part of Glen Burnie for 30 years now. This is a business that 25 years ago I trusted them with my first tattoo, and now I trust them with my new tattoo. Dragon Moon is one of the most unique tattoo studios around
maybe these lawmakers should make it a point of visiting them, before passing judgement on them. Cleaning up Glen Burnie is one thing, but picking on a small family owned business, or any other tattoo
shop, pool hall or any small business that takes pride in what they do is not the way to do it.

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Lisa M. - Abingdon, MD - Karma: Bad

Communist State - 2008-02-19 16:53:47

Next they'll be telling us what clothes we can wear.They are not closing any liquor stores are they?
I pray every night my house will sell so I can get the hell out of this state.Land of the free my ass !

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tony d. - edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad

Big Government - 2008-02-19 15:48:25

Here we go again our Government trying to decide for me whats best FOR me. Outlawing a business that has been in the comunity for almost 30 years is tragic to say the least, I am a recent customer of the studio and would like to send many thanks and good luck on fighting this issue to all there.

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Robert Arneson - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Bad

Law Makers Gone Mad - 2008-02-19 15:11:54

Whats Next you gonna outlaw the carnival to much fun, wait no dancing in glenburnie at least not from b&a to 5th ave.

HOW FAR IS TO FAR

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Link Snchez - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Bad

unsavory? - 2008-02-19 11:03:49

Dragon Moon has been my second home for eight years now and has helped me mature. I have found something that I love doing and IF this bill passes, I will no longer be able to further my career. This business is very much so family oriented. Dragon Moon is family owned and operated and has tattooed and pierced many members of many families of all walks of life. Do you consider firefighters, doctors, nurses, lawyers, police officers and business owners "unsavory"?

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Jacob Pinkney - Glen Burnie, MD - Karma: Bad

Tattoo Studios Outlawed? - 2008-02-18 23:07:19

Dragon Moon Tattoo Studio, Inc. in downtown Glen Burnie proudly celebrates it's 30th year in business. Safe, professional and responsible taxpayers, voters and property owners of Anne Arundel County, we look forward to the public hearing on 2/19 to clarify the current language of bill 8--08.

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Mick Michieli-Beasley - Glen Burnie, MD - Karma: Bad

Tattoos Gone Mainstream - 2008-02-10 16:26:45

What we need is tattoo places that people actually feel safe going into. Outlawing the business is wrong. Tattoos have gone really mainstream, with several TV shows dedicated to the craft, and a nice high-end shop in a town center would be exactly what the public needs.

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Mike Lohsl - Riva, MD - Karma: Bad