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Also this issue: The Way West Then Came Brunson Ed of Days The Bell Curve |
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January 23-29, 2003
city beat
 Marked man?: Brett Mapp, owner of Inferno on South Street, is at the center of a dispute over tattooing in the neighborhood. |
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The piercing cry of favoritism rings out as South Street debates the arrival of a new tattoo shop.
When Brett Mapp decided to sublet a section of his South Street store, Inferno, to Olde City Tattoo staff, he thought it would be a great way to expand his piercing business. And since one business license covers piercing and tattooing, he thought he was covered under the law. He didn't factor in the cutthroat competitiveness that exists in the tattoo world.
Even though Mapp is an active member of the South Street Headhouse District Board, he says he was unaware that his business initiative was illegal under a city ordinance called the "zoning overlay #14-1612," which restricts new tattoo shops from opening up on South Street (right now, there are eight tattoo shops on the street, with six in very close proximity to each other). Though the city or Zoning Board of Adjustments has never had any problems with Inferno, the attempt at expansion was stopped before it even had a chance to begin, with a visit from L&I inspectors and a cease and desist order issued before any ink was slung (inspectors ruled that the displayed tattoo art, or flash, indicated intent). Mapp thinks this has less to do with L&I and zoning and more to do with his competition across the street, namely Body Graphics Tattoo. He also says his across-the-street competitor, Bill Funk, who owns Body Graphics Tattoo, may have used his position and connections with the SSHD board to shut the Olde City Tattoo area in Inferno down.
Tattooing has always been a hotly competitive business. Jason Goldberg, who owns Olde City Tattoo, worked at Body Graphics for six years before venturing out on his own. He puts it bluntly: Funk "doesn't want us back on South Street."
A mysterious and lengthy e-mail triggered emotions and suspicions with Olde City Tattoo and Mapp. The e-mail, circulated to all SSHD board members except for Funk and Mapp, said "the owners of Inferno are attempting to circumvent the Zoning Overlay by starting a new use for their storefront on South St. that is prohibited. This is wrong and it beleagures [sic] the spirit of a zoning overlay by the South St. Headhouse Board has endorsed along with surrounding neighborhood groups. [T]his MUST be stopped immediately before it's too late and spreads like the plague, as it has recently in New York's Greenwich Village. [W]here will it end?"
Apparently it ends on 618 South St.
SSHD board member Fluffy Palmer replied to the e-mail attempting to find out who sent it, and never got a response. Mapp has been a board member for nine years and never met Funk. "I find it very suspicious that anyone other than a board member would have access to all our e-mail addresses. I'm not going to accuse Bill [Funk] or any of his employees of sending the e-mail, but it is very odd his name was left off the list of recipients."
Funk, currently living in Hawaii, denies either influencing the board or sending the e-mail. "I haven't been on the board for five months. I've been way out of town and way out of touch. I'm kind of flattered that anyone would think I have any influence over what happens on South Street."
So who sent the e-mail? Funk can't say. "That's unfortunate. There are a number of community groups that all border on South Street who send e-mails back and forth to one another. I'd look at public opinion to find out who might have sent it. Like I said, I've been out of Philly since mid-October. I have five studios and other business interests. [Olde City] is small change as far as I'm concerned. Good luck to them, I'm hitting the waves."
Funk's relaxed attitude will no doubt get under Olde City Tattoo's skin more indelibly than ink.
SSHD president Michael Samschick backs up Funk's story, saying the tattoo-shop owner did not act in self-interest on the board, and was not involved with any decisions or consultations relating to Brett Mapp or Inferno.
"Bill stepped down from the board as well as removing himself from the process for that particular incident, to make sure there wouldn't be a conflict of interest. We were going to request that he step aside, but he removed himself. When we started this process, one of the first things that Bill did was come to me and say he couldn't be involved."
Mapp says he was "upset" the board chose not to inform his business in person, and went the way of L&I. "I understand that they didn't choose to support us, but it's just turned into a huge political issue. I think they're making an example of us. It's not like we're a new business."
Samschick says, "It's unfortunate that Brett [Mapp] did not realize the importance of following through with that. Initially, he was not doing tattooing. Then he switched and that was an illegal use. We want a broader mix of retail on the street. Right now we have five or six flower shops -- we would like no more flower shops. Same thing with pizza -- we're done with pizza, we're done with takeout. Primarily what we're trying to do is ensure we have a broad mix."
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