UPDATE: Gov. Tate Reeves said in his Friday press conference that tattoo parlors could reopen immediately provided they follow guidelines “very similar” to salons and barber shops.
Reeves also announced that he was making other changes to his "safer at home" executive order to lift bans on fishing tournaments and to allow cities to again regulate hours at public parks.
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As most businesses slowly start the process of reopening, Marked Tattoos on Main Street is staying closed for the time being due to the coronavirus.
Since the shelter in place was issued in March, owner Mark Carithers has been unable to operate his business, despite the fact that he says he is already mandated to operate under a sterile environment to begin with.
If that wasn’t enough, more bad luck came for him when his shop received three and a half inches of water from the flash flooding on April 19, which ruined the floor.
Despite everything, Carithers is keeping a good attitude, saying, “One of my mother’s favorite sayings is, ‘It is what it is.’”
There was some confusion when Gov. Tate Reeves’ issued his executive order on May 8 that allowed hair and nail salons, barber shops and gyms to reopen on May 11. Some tattoo shops across Mississippi assumed they were covered under salons and reopened Monday. However, Reeves said in his press conference Monday afternoon that tattoo parlors are not allowed to reopen.
When Reeves issued the latest executive order allowing salons and barber shops to open, Carithers was going to open to do consultation work, discuss drawings and plans for when he could apply the ink. The owner of a tattoo shop in Hattiesburg caught wind of it and did not understand why one could open for consulations only but the other could not.
The reasoning is the mayors can add mandates but cannot take away from what the governor orders. An example would be in Hattiesburg customers must wear a mask in all public places. In Columbia, there is no order demanding it.
Carithers said he and the shop owner have spoken about it and the differences were explained. In an effort to not cause any confusion, Carithers decided to go ahead and keep the shop closed.
“Most people think I have money, and I don’t. I am like most people just trying to break even,” Carithers said.
Carithers has been using the time to help out where he can, including going to Bassfield on Easter to help clear roads from the deadly EF-4 tornado. He also worked a few days at the distribution center in Collins to assist victims.
He said tattoo parlors not being able to open yet is a little bit confusing. He already must maintain a sterile environment in the shop and already wears gloves while working on clients. Plus the most he can even recall being in his shop at one time is 10 people, and usually it is only one or two people.
In the end, even though it is difficult right now he believes everything will work out.
“It’s all good,” Carithers said.
