East Villagers seeking fresh ink – don’t forget to Google Map before you go. A little over a month ago, vegan tattoo parlor White Rabbit Tattoo moved from East 10th Street to a new location at 121 Essex Street. And now Maria Tash, body-piercer to the stars, has relocated from East Fourth Street to a spanking new location at Avenue A and Second Street.
Like Tash’s flagship store in NoHo, Venus Body Arts specializes in high-end piercing, but will also offer tattooing as well as the designer’s namesake clothing line.
So far, the new incarnation has yet to receive a visit from A-list clients like Beyonce, Christiana Aguilera, or Britney Spears, though it hasn’t been totally devoid of star sightings. “Gilbert Gottfried was poking his nose in here,” said store clerk Joe Rossetti.
The aesthetic in the new store is a mix of sterile – white walls, sparse décor – and swanky: a crystal chandelier hangs overhead. Glass display cases twinkle with studs and dangling belly-button rings, which are made with 14- or 18-karat gold and real diamonds, and can cost thousands of dollars.
“It’s like Tiffany’s for body jewelry,” explained store clerk Joe Rossetti.
While Chris Lockhart is currently the only tattoo artist on site, Venus Body Arts is planning to hire additional artists in order to have one piercing room and four tattoo rooms running at any given time.
Venus Body Arts, 31 Avenue A, East Village, (212) 473-1954