SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) –The ink is flowing again inside a longtime Sioux Falls tattoo business that’s at a new location.
It’s been two months since Vishnu Bunny moved out of its Phillips Avenue location after the building was sold.
The new space provides opportunities and challenges for both tattoo artists and their clients.
Elliot Tudor’s forearms are a flesh-and-bone billboard for Vishnu Bunny.
“I’ve got a skull with a spider coming out. I kind of stuck with a moth-theme on this side,” Tudor said.
Tattoo artist ‘Magz’ Lee is adding even more ink to Tudor’s arm.
“I like the human-ness of it. I like seeing a tattoo become a part of somebody and it just ages and become them,” Lee said.
But Vishnu Bunny’s move to 6th and Main was a little disorienting for Tudor.
“I have to re-put everything in my maps just to get over here,” Tudor said.
Tudor says he was alarmed when he found out Vishnu Bunny was changing locations.
“When I heard they were moving stores, I was like, ohhh, hopefully, it’s in a good location for them. I know they get a lot of foot traffic over at their old location,” Tudor said.
But business has been steady since Vishnu Bunny opened at its new space in the historic Soo Square, a building that dates back to the 1890’s.
“Losing some of the foot traffic we had on Phillips was a little concerning. But I don’t think we’ve felt much of a dip in business,” Vishnu Bunny owner Jeff Mann said.
And there’s still a period of adjustment for the staff.
“Change always presents some hurdles. Our work flow and where we have our computer work stations and just managing that kind of stuff. But we’re getting it all ironed out,” Mann said.
The staff is impressed with the charms of working inside a building that’s more than 130-years old.
“There’s easier parking to find. I love that we have two bathrooms. Our basement is horribly creepy, though. But overall, this new building is beautiful and it’s been pleasant to work in it so far,”
The door to that ‘creepy’ basement is locked. Location is always important to any business. And it’s been a priority for owner Jeff Mann, a native of Denver, to keep Vishnu Bunny downtown.
“I came from a bigger city and just being down in the hear of it matters. I just prefer this environment,” Mann said.
“I have clients that work downtown. I love my clients that work downtown, in the various restaurants,” Lee said.
Regular customers like Tudor, who’ve remained loyal to Vishnu Bunny during the move, have helped the transition to a new location go smoothly.
“I plan on getting all covered up, so if I can stay with them, I can definitely plan on it,” Tudor said.
Even though they’re in a new location, Vishnu Bunny’s longtime outreach to the community hasn’t changed. Their annual Toys for Tats campaign which offers discounts to customers who donate Christmas toys for children starts after Thanksgiving.
“I just think it’s important to give back to the community. We kind of decided many years ago that instead of having an advertising budget, we’ll have a community outreach budget, and spend our money that way, instead,” Mann said.
And in many ways giving is the best advertising of all. A downtown mainstay still making a mark in the community.
Vishnu Bunny plans to revive another longtime tradition at its new location. They hope to re-open their Third Eye Gallery, displaying works by local and regional artists, next spring.
