MORTON –Jason and Amanda Parker will open a tattoo parlor Tuesday in downtown Morton.
The tattoo parlor won't be in the downtown location at 142 S. Main St. the husband-and-wife team and business partners coveted — they still harbor some bitterness about that — but they're thrilled with their 1,000-square-foot space less than two blocks away at 330 S. Main St., in the same building as theV Galleryportrait studio.
"The people who didn't want us opening a tattoo parlor in our desired location will see that a tattoo parlor is not something to fear," said tattoo artist Jason Parker.
Some of those he's referring to are the Morton Village Board trustees who made up the majority in a 4-2 vote Nov. 2 against making a tattoo parlor an allowed use in a B-2 business zone, preventing the Parkers from opening at 142 S. Main.
The board's decision was contrary to the Morton Plan Commission's unanimous recommendation to allow tattoo parlors in a B-2 business zone.
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Why is the tattoo parlor opening in a different spot?
Main Street Saints Tattoo Parlour, the Parkers' business, is in a B-3 business zone, where a tattoo parlor is allowed without any vote by the Village Board.
"We're just a block or so from the invisible line (between B-2 and B-3 business zones) that kept us from our desired location, but hey, we're still downtown and in the community we love," Jason Parker said.
Amanda Parker is still upset about the Village Board's zoning decision, though.
She said zoning restrictions make sense when they're applied properly. She doesn't believe restrictions were applied properly in the case of 142 S. Main.
"Zoning segregates uses that are incompatible," she said. "You won't see a gas station in one of our predominantly residential areas in Morton, or an airport next to your house.
"What's not good is when zoning is used to segregate based on the personal opinions of a few board members. ...We feel this was a misuse of the purpose of zoning and it makes us sad. We believe in embracing, cherishing and standing up for diversity. Our neighbors do, too, but the majority of the board didn't listen."
The Parkers presented a petition to the Village Board on Dec. 7.
The petition contained more than 700 signatures that supported the Parkers' desire to move into 142 S. Main. Among the petition signees were Morton residents and other small business owners in the village.
But the petitions didn't move the needle toward changing the four board members' minds, and the Parkers thought their dream of opening a tattoo parlor in their hometown was dead.
How the new space came to be
Shortly after the meeting, they learned the space at 330 S. Main was available.
The site has some history. It was Morton Bowl in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Parkers' lease with landlords Jed and Vicki Taufer went into effect Jan. 1. V Gallery is Vicki Taufer's photo studio.
"Serendipitous," Amanda Parker said about the availability of the space at 330 S. Main. "Miraculous," Jason Parker said about finding the open space so quickly.
Trustee Clinton Leman, who championed the Parkers' cause during their quest to move into 142 S. Main and voted along with Trustee Nate Parrott in favor of the original proposal, praised the Parkers.
"I'm grateful the Parkers rose above the trustees who voted against the zoning change — in an effort to block their business — by choosing to still open in Morton," Leman said.
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Trustees Rod Blunier, Steve Leitch, Brad Menold and Ken Newman voted against the initial proposal.
None expressed concerns about the Parkers' business proposal the night of the vote, but Blunier and Leitch each said they worried that changing the zoning ordinance could open the door to other tattoo parlors coming into a B-2 business zone.
There are no other tattoo parlors in Morton besides the Parkers' place.
Morton Mayor Jeff Kaufman said he's happy the Parkers found a space in the B-3 business zone.
"They're still close enough to the Pumpkin Festival site that they'll have potential customers walking by their door during the festival," he said.
Why the Parkers wanted to open in Morton
Amanda Parker has lived in Morton for about 10 years. Her husband has been a Morton resident for about four years. Together, they have four children.
The Parkers feel the village is a perfect place for their tattoo parlor.
"We love the community and the feel of the town," Jason Parker said. "Our downtown location offers customers the opportunity to make a day or evening of it in Morton. We're within walking distance of fun shops and eateries."
He also called the location ideal, with Interstate 74 and Interstate 155 nearby.
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Jason Parkeralso said COVID-19 issues shouldn't be a concern at his business.
"With the appropriate precautions, we can serve our customers safely and responsively," he said.
A Rochester, N.Y., native, Jason Parker, 41, has been a tattoo artist for more than 14 years. He's worked at tattoo parlors across central Illinois including his latest stop, Freedom Ink Tattoos in Peoria, for four years.
He did much of the renovation work in his new space with help from family and friends.
Amanda Parker, 43, said she and her husband are excited to be Morton business owners and are there to stay.
"Our hope is the physical shop environment, the work we do, and our promise of inclusivity will make Morton proud," she said. "We know from experience that people with tattoos sometimes feel like they're in the 'others' group. We're allies to all who have been there."
Jason Parker is the lone tattoo artist in the business, but that could change.
"We hope to add another tattoo artist in the future," Amanda Parker said.
The hours at Main Street Saints Tattoo Parlour are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For contact information, see the business' Facebook page or website (mainstreetsaintstattoo.com).
Steve Stein can be reached at (248) 224-2616 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.
