Within the final 4 months, Hamptons, Ink.—Sag Harbor’s first tattoo and everlasting make-up store—has opened, closed as a result of COVID-19 and reopened its doorways to the neighborhood.
After getting married one yr in the past, NYC tattoo artists Mike and Kat Maldonado deliberate to maneuver to Lengthy Island to be nearer to Kat’s household. After they resolved to plant their roots, the attract of the Sag Harbor neighborhood was too sturdy to withstand. “We’ve all the time visited right here,” Mike says. “Being from town, it was a complete completely different atmosphere for me, and I really like the truth that individuals knew one another and have been concerned in neighborhood occasions… It was the wonder and the folks that drew us out right here.”
The grand opening of Hamptons, Ink. was on March 1, and Mike reviews that at the moment he had bookings scheduled by way of your entire month. “Being the one tattoo store, we felt we’d meet some resistance, however everybody’s been fairly inviting and surprisingly constructive that we’re out right here.”
Then, solely two weeks later, the store was pressured to shut as a result of COVID-19, a devastating blow to any younger enterprise. “We thankfully have a very nice landlord and have been capable of have a dialogue together with her. We labored one thing out, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a battle,” Kat explains, including that they’d utilized for a small enterprise mortgage to assist pay lease and have been denied for missing a “nice sufficient loss.” The silver lining, the Maldonados word, was that greater than 40 individuals messaged them to get on the record for tattoos when the store reopened, and others reached out simply to verify on how the couple have been doing amidst the pandemic. “That’s why we wish to be right here, actually, as a result of the neighborhood is so nice,” Kat says. “And we actually wish to be concerned as a lot as potential.”
After a number of troublesome months, Hamptons, Ink. reopened as a part of NY Forward’s Phase 3. Whereas piercings and lip blush, two of the store’s providers, are at the moment nonetheless not allowed in New York, Mike has been capable of resume taking tattoo appointments, and Kat is microblading eyebrows as soon as extra. Security measures have been elevated throughout this time—with shoppers retaining their masks on all through their appointment, temperatures being taken on the door and just one visitor being allowed to attend a session. Mike and Kat additionally put on further coverings, together with a masks, face defend/goggles, an apron and lengthy surgical sleeves. “Even earlier than COVID-19, our ranges of cleanliness and disinfection have been excessive to fulfill Board of Well being requirements,” Mike clarifies. “I believe the tattoo store is without doubt one of the most secure locations to be in the course of the pandemic.” Kat explains that tattoo artists are educated in infectious illness management throughout their licensing program, so most of the COVID-19 security rules are pretty customary. “Our whole life is predicated upon not infecting individuals and [avoiding] cross-contamination,” she says.
Between Kat’s transformative eyebrow microblading and Mike’s masterful tattoos, Hamptons, Ink. is offering Sag Harborites with thrilling providers which are few and much between on the East Finish. “There’s no tattoo that’s too wild for me… Regardless of the shopper needs, we work collectively to make it occur,” Mike says, clarifying that he’ll supply his “moral two cents” when requested to do face tattoos and offensive designs.
Along with being a tattoo store, Hamptons, Ink. is a studio for artists, the place featured creators are capable of work, show their completed items and promote their paintings. Presently, the partitions are adorned with pictures by Montauk photographer James Katsipis. “Sag Harbor is a spot the place all forms of artists—from poets to painters to musicians—flock. [Tattooing] is a type of artistry, and when shoppers are available in, they’re part of that artistry,” Kat says. “Although [a tattoo shop] hasn’t been right here earlier than, that is the place artists thrive, so I believe it’s good!”
To view the complete record of Hamptons, Ink. security issues, to browse featured tattoo designs or to schedule an appointment for tattooing or microblading, go to hamptons-ink.com.
