City Policy Shuts Down Yorkville Tattoo Parlor Days After Opening

Matt Faxon had done everything by the book. Or at least he thought he had.

Faxon opened Fancy Flesh Tattoo Oct. 2. He had received all his state, health department, occupancy and zoning certifications. But there was one thing he didn’t do, which could shut his business down permanently.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Faxon never applied for a city tattoo license. Had he done so, he would have been told that his shop was in violation of a city ordinance that states tattoo parlors must be 700 feet away from residences.

Yorkville City Administrator Bart Olson said that the license hasn’t been denied, nor has it been issued.

“We can’t issue it as the rules are currently drafted. (The 700-foot buffer) is a requirement that he still has not met,” Olson told the Tribune.

As of now, Faxon’s business is shut down. Just days after holding its grand opening, he was told he had to shut it down.

“We were reading through the codes, making sure everything was fine, and we realized there were some things that hadn’t been done,” Olson told the Tribune.

Despite the mistake, city officials said they didn’t realize the clause until it was too late and that no malice was intended.

Alderman Joel Frieders is one of those people trying to make sure the business follows the town’s rules.

“I’m all for bringing in new businesses to Yorkville,” Frieders told the Tribune ”But, you have to respect the guy who has been here and pays property taxes, too. You can’t put one over the other.”

A Yorkville City Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall located at 800 Game Farm Road to discuss the issue. A portion of the meeting will be set aside for public comment.

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