Tattoo artist turns former Akron post office into music venue

AKRON, Ohio — An achieved tattoo artist and native son of Akron seems to spark a music revival within the Rubber Metropolis by way of a undertaking that couldn’t get any nearer to residence. Though he has poured years of his life and risked his personal private fortune within the endeavor, it’s the neighborhood that’s set to reap the reward.

On a brisk Tuesday afternoon, Akron’s Goodyear Heights neighborhood is quiet. The lull of January is damaged solely by the clang-pause-pause-clang of the flagpole out entrance. As the remainder of the town readies itself for lunch, David Schweyer is on the point of get up.

“I used to be born throughout the road right here in Goodyear Heights, 38 years in the past,” Schweyer mentioned.

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Constructed into the highest ground of a former submit office-turned-grocery store-turned-blighted, empty storefront, Schweyer’s house is a sight to behold. Ornate swords, eye-catching guitars and all of the tools essential to report and produce a full size album fill the partitions and halls of his dwelling house. It’s the sort of place that appears becoming for a lifelong tattoo artist that’s simply as adept at discussing artwork has he’s economics.

“It’s good to look again in any respect the work we’ve accomplished to see what it has turned out to be now. You neglect typically in a undertaking this massive,” Schweyer mentioned. “The constructing would have been torn down. It was dilapidated, actually.”

By mid-afternoon, Schweyer is prepared for his first buyer, a buddy of his. He readies his tattoo station, spraying and sanitizing and organizing and testing and making an attempt to be prepared for no matter comes his means. At a younger age, Schweyer found his love for tattoos — and the duty that artists have.

“He grabbed a lamp cable, a fork, a Bic pen, a distant management automotive motor — and constructed a tattoo machine proper in entrance of me,” Schweyer mentioned as he recalled the primary and solely time he met a person he solely is aware of as “Midnight.” “We used ink from a Bic pen and I tattooed myself six instances that day. Then you definitely inform all people in highschool that you just do tattoos and I’ve been booked ever since.”

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Ultimately, Schweyer discovered the correct option to tattoo human pores and skin and, particularly, the secure option to do it. From humble beginnings, his enterprise has flourished to the purpose the place he’s obtainable by appointment-only.

“It’s our bread and butter. It’s what constructed this complete place,” Schweyer mentioned. “The entire journey has been primarily based on ink — the entire thing. It’s all constructed on tattoos.”

The “journey” that Schweyer speaks of is the amalgamation of the previous 5 years, which have been pockmarked in dust, sweat, blood and money. Past the safe doorways to his tattoo store is an expansive house enveloped in black paint and blacklight.

Schweyer lights up when he talks about it.

“I by no means set a deadline for this factor. It’s like an artwork undertaking for me. This entire idea is only a enjoyable undertaking to attempt to revitalize the neighborhood,” Schweyer mentioned. “I had 100 initiatives in entrance of me from swinging a hammer or portray a mural to construct this place. I wasn’t going to cease. There’s no means. You simply don’t quit.”

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Day in, time out, Schweyer has spent the overwhelming majority of his waking moments both tattooing or engaged on the brand new music venue, espresso store and arcade. Dubbed The Afterlife, the music venue ought to maintain 175 folks and options a big stage and a professionally-designed “crow’s nest” that homes all the mandatory audio tools.

An achieved and touring musician again within the day, Schweyer took all of the issues he cherished about sure venues and included them into the design. It took a whole yr simply to demolish the vestiges that remained of what the constructing was.

“We needed to tear down three layers of drop ceiling, along with all of the concrete and metallic,” Schweyer mentioned. “The constructing wanted to be gutted. It has taken 5 years to get to what it’s now.”

The transformation has honestly been a labor of affection, he mentioned, even when there have been limitless complications — like fixing the freight elevator — alongside the best way.

“It’s a ten yr plan that we did in 5 years,” Schweyer mentioned. “What within the hell do I really feel? Blistered. Calloused. Able to do it once more.”

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Taking over a undertaking of that dimension and scope is a monumental enterprise for any small enterprise proprietor, not to mention one who did a lot of the work himself. For elements of the rework that he couldn’t do himself, he supplied tattoo’s for folks’s time.

The “why” behind the endeavor has been the simplest half about it.

“There isn’t a music scene; there isn’t a underground music scene in Akron,” Schweyer mentioned. “There hasn’t been since 2010 actually, particularly now with COVID.”

Schweyer did a majority of the work however he has assumed all the threat. When he began building, a pandemic was one thing folks usually solely learn in historical past books. When building was practically full, he was two years into one.

“I don’t know anyone else that has accomplished a five-year, every-day undertaking out of a labor of affection,” Schweyer mentioned. “It’s bizarre. I used to purchase stamps proper there once I was three years previous. I’m really terrified. Terrified for 5 years of labor inside a spot the place I’ve spent virtually $378,000. What are we going to do with that if we are able to’t really fill it with folks?”

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Schweyer tries to not concern himself with questions that he at the moment can’t reply, and as a substitute, has his eyes on opening in late winter or early spring. He just lately obtained his occupancy allow. As he friends over the dimly lit music venue, he has by no means felt so near residence.

“I couldn’t think about this occurring anyplace else. It simply is as a result of it’s alleged to be — and I don’t even actually imagine in stuff like that,” Schweyer mentioned. “However I sort of need to.”