If I could give this place 40 negative stars I would! I last went to this place about a year before the pandemic and left a review then about the staff at that time who was obviously racist.
Today, I went back to get a dermal top for a piercing because I figured staff must have changed and things would be different. Boy was I wrong!! IT was even worse!
I was with my service dog, who had her vest on (though not required by law) and immediately upon entering the shop I was told I had to leave with my dog. I immediately got out my cell phone and started recording.
I am a U.S. Air Force veteran with a disability that my dog provides a service for. I tried to educate the man that told me that I had to leave, of the laws protecting me and other people with service dogs.
During that interaction, another man with gauged out ears, came out and involved himself into the conversation, if you can call it that, and re-iterated that I had to leave.
I told them about a prior confrontation about the same situation I had with my service dog at another local tattoo shop and what transpired, he then told me I was threatening him, though no one threatened him! And told me they refused to help me due to my "attitude".
The video clearly shows I had no attitude and that they were not only clearly discriminating against me and my service dog but then proceeded to LIE that they had no dermal tops to sell me.
He blatantly refused to help me because of my disability which is a crime!
Eventually, the first gentleman, who identified himself as an Army veteran apologized and we were able to get past what happened, and he conceded that the dog is not allowed where they pierce flesh, etc. Which I already knew.
I was never in the back where they do anything like that....I barely got in the front door when I was told to leave.
It's disgusting and traumatizing to people with disabilities when a business decides to discriminate against us! And despite being told the laws, refuses to listen.
The man with the gauged out ears asked me what type of service the dog provided, as he is allowed to ask, and I told him. He still was not satisfied with the answer and refused to help me.
I know for a FACT they have dermal tops there and have proof of it!
The outright refusal to help me because of my service dog is a crime and I am still thinking about pursuing legal action against them as I have the entire interaction on video.
Read the negative reviews and heed the warnings of others and myself.
You dont want to patronize a business that is racist, unpatriotic, rude, discriminatory and even after 2 years has not changed their business practices and has only gotten worse.
I have been to other tattoo and piercing shops from S. Florida to Gainesville without any issue with my service dog except for this one and the other one which is also located in Ocala.
Spend your money at a place that treats everyone equally! I pray that they lose business and eventually have to close their doors! read more