The Aurora City Council Tuesday evening voted unanimously to approve an additional license for a tattoo parlor that will allow a business to open in the 1st Ward.
The council reversed a previous 7-4 vote against adding the fifth license in the city that would allow the Paradise Tattoo House to open in a building along High Street, next to the bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks.
The business had obtained its necessary permits to open, but could not because it could not get a tattoo license from the city. The city had a cap of four licenses that were already taken, and needed to create a fifth license for Paradise.
In voting against the license expansion, several aldermen said they were supporting the wishes of former Ald. Emmanuel Llamas, who was the 1st Ward alderman at the time. He said he had heard from residents that they did not want the business there.
Since that time, Llamas has resigned and been replaced by Ald. Dan Barreiro, 1st Ward. Barreiro said this week he met with the owner of Paradise Tattoo House Brandon Rodriguez, and toured the building.
“It was very nice, the staff is very professional,” Barreiro said.
He said he also attended a meeting of the Pigeon Hills Neighbors neighborhood group to ask what they thought. In a show of hands, they all said they would support the opening of the shop.
“I think it’d be a great addition to the ward,” Barreiro said.
He also said Rodriguez is a talented tattoo artist who could go almost anywhere, but is “taking a risk to invest” in Aurora’s 1st Ward.
Alds. Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward; Michael Saville, 6th Ward; and Patty Smith, 8th Ward; all said they would change their votes to support the business after what Barreiro said.
“I appreciate 1st Ward Alderman Barreiro going out and asking the residents their opinions,” Saville said.
“We typically support the ward alderman and I will be moving to a yes vote,” Mesiacos said.
This time the vote was 11-0 in favor of adding the fifth license to the city ordinance.
slord@tribpub.com
