In Your Face Tattooz Plans Move to New Appleton Avenue Location

Citing differences with a landlord, the owner of In Your Face Tattooz, N87W16458 Appleton Ave., has decided to move his business and merge with the newly formed Immortal Tattoo Company a short distance away at N85W15964 Appleton Ave. 

Cliff May opened the In Your Face Tattooz, which specializes in custom tattoos and body piercing, last January. May signed a short-term lease which has not been extended due to disagreements over insurance, rent and renovation plans for the building.

“We’re moving because our landlord wants me to do some construction in the building and he wants me to do it at my expense,” said May.  "My landlord re-wrote a lease when my (temporary) lease was up in May. He increased the rent to almost double of what it was and he said he wanted me to fix the furnace in the building, replace some tile that’s out in the foyer, do some drywall work in both the front and rear foyers, and build a wall that would section off a room – all at my expense.”

The landlord, Jay Keinert of Crown Development, explained that the short-term lease had an option for a longer lease agreement. However, he says the two sides differed in how plans to improve the space should be handled.

“It’s ironic because we’re in the process of doing some upgrades to the building which will enhance the curb appeal and will be a potential draw to clients and customers but they are not willing to make some concessions that would benefit them in the long run,” said Keinert. “We came to an understanding that we couldn’t work things out the exact way we wanted so they are planning on moving and merging with somebody else.”

Liability insurance for In Your Face Tattooz also became a source of disagreement.

“There is one issue that they have not been able to provide a certificate of liability that insures the owners of the building that, if there is a problem with a customer — if somebody falls or gets injured on the property — it’s a pretty common requirement but they’ve not been able to provide that,” said Keinert.

May contends that he has been unable to get the liability insurance requested.

“The landlord required me to carry insurance,” said May. “I called every insurance company in the book and none of them will carry insurance on a tattoo shop because of the liability.  As soon as he found out I was not going to do the room, the tile work and the furnace, he said I was in breach of contract for the insurance.”

May and his new business partner plan to open the Immortal Tattoo Company on July 15. They will occupy the same building as the Knockout Gym.

Meanwhile, Keinert says he is seeking a new tenant to replace In Your Face Tattooz.

“I can’t really tell you with certainty what the final resolution will be because they’re still there,” said Keinert. “We gave them several options but they haven’t chosen any of them. I was hoping we could work something out but he’s got some other ideas.  I guess he’ll be better served by merging with (Immortal Tattoo Company).”