Many thanks to Bryan city
leaders for tackling the issue of tattooing near to downtown — the undisputed
hub for arts and culture in the Brazos Valley. The Arsenal Tattoo & Design
has been serving connoisseurs of indelible art for 19 years, and we’re extremely
grateful just to have had the opportunity to engage a public debate about the
legitimacy of body art. Indeed, we are humbled by the time, effort, and
energies expended by all who participated; and we vow to be a positive force in
the neighborhood.
My wife, Stacy, and I are
locals — born, bred, and educated in the Brazos Valley. We’ve been traveling to
the twin cities as long as we can remember — back when downtown was thriving
and also when it wasn’t. Stacy attended A&M, and I fled Sam Houston on the
weekends to apprentice under Pat Beck, Aggie graduate and founder of Arsenal Tattoo.
After getting married, Stacy and I opted to make Aggieland our permanent home,
and soon thereafter I assumed ownership of the Arsenal. We’ve got an abiding
respect for this area and our relocation to Bryan is designed to cater to our
discriminating clients by offering a more spacious facility in an aesthetically
rich environment and to better participate in local festivals through our finer
arts.
We’re so very grateful
for all the city staffers who’ve worked with us since last fall, for the
councilmembers who had our issue on their plates for so many months, for the
Planning and Zoning commissioners charged with investigating our request of a
conditional use permit, and for all the residents who contributed their
opinions. We sincerely appreciate this opportunity and look forward to brightening
the corner of 26th Street and Sims.
We invite everyone to
our grand opening, set for First Friday in October.