A canvas of skin is where tattoo artist and Red Lotus Tattoo Company owner Robert Fiore brings his masterpieces to life.
For about seven years, Fiore created these masterpieces at 209 W. Main St., in the heart of Lansdale Borough’s downtown and in the midst of the borough’s commerce and aesthetic revitalization.
Then, earlier this year, Red Lotus Tattoo Co. let its lease expire and closed up shop. Meanwhile, Fiore and his wife Holly focused on a new passion – wedding reception tattooing.
“When the lease was up at the old place, I decided we were going to let it expire, plus we had all that construction out back (in Madison Parking Lot),” he said. “We wanted to put a little bit more dedication to other business ventures.”
Unlike the ink he embeds in his clientele to bring a realm of design possibilities to life, location is not always permanent.
Luckily, Red Lotus Tattoo Co. is coming back to Lansdale on Sept. 1 at its new location at 308 W. Main St.
“We knew we were getting back to Red Lotus. It was almost like taking a sabbatical,” he said. “I was tattooing the whole time, as well as doing private studio and custom stuff. I equate it to being in a band: For the last six months, I was doing solo projects and experimenting with this and having fun with that.”
During the hiatus, Fiore took his love of watercolor art to the next level. There is a striking similitude between Fiore’s passion of tattooing and his other passion of painting: One must wield a special tool and its respective liquids – brush and watercolors, and tattoo iron and ink – to create works of art. A painter just needs a different kind of canvas.
“I would think about coming back to Red Lotus, and I haven’t thought about it too much in the spring and summer. But as I was doing my watercolors and art, I was reminiscing of Red Lotus and I was eager to get back into a Main Street America shop,” he said.
Fiore found a reborn energy and began to get inspired again. He just needed the right available space that fit the need.
Enter a twist of fate – Fiore discovered Lansdale business owner Candy Pack was moving to Lancaster and taking her business, Green Street Luxuries, with her.
“From being familiar with people in the Economic Development Committee, and being in the downtown business district for some time, I approached her and asked about the space,” he said. “One thing led to another, and here we are.”
Fiore is planning a soft opening for Sept. 1, and for now, it will be a one-man plan, with guest artists from around the country stopping in twice a month.
“I’ll be handling everything myself. I have some friends in the industry that would do some part-time tattooing. I’ll play it by ear,” he said.
Red Lotus Tattoo Co. will focus on custom tattoos and polishing up old designs. It will also serve as the headquarters for his wedding tattooing business, where couples can come in and plan their tattoo reception package. This side business he views as a crossover into event planning.
The new location will also serve as an art gallery, where Fiore will have his own prints and other types of merchandise for sale.
“Once the First Fridays start picking up in 2019, I want to start doing art exhibitions,” he said.
He is excitedly anticipating the crowd and interested clientele to visit his shop during Bike Night on Sept. 8.
“I’ve been tattooing for years, and you get a bit into this kind of style and that kind of style,” he said. “After 20 years, you do a bit of everything and have fun doing it.”
Fiore couldn’t say enough good things about his interactions with Lansdale Borough staff and the borough codes department, as he prepares to reopen in the downtown.
“Everybody on Borough Council and others in the borough, once they caught wind of us coming back, they took the time out to email or text and say ‘Good to have you back.’ I’m excited to get back in the chair,” he said.
Fiore, who, in the mid-1990s, underwent an “old school” apprenticeship at the age of 15 for 18 months under the tutelage of Trip at The InkWell in Southampton, wants to make his skills available to everybody that will stop in Red Lotus Tattoo Co. There is a mysticism to tattooing, he said, and once you are exposed to it, you continue to progress and evolve.
“I’m about customer service,” he said. “I’m not about bad ideas. In a general way, with every tattoo, no matter how simple or ornate, the client wants his or her expectations to be exceeded. You can do one style and be limited to a trend, or you can be a master of all styles.”
To be successful for a long period of time in the tattoo industry comes down to not just knowing what the client wants and possessing an artistic ability, but also requires a certain bedside manner, a knowledge of the machines, the proper sterilization procedures and even how to make tattoo needles.
One can be rooted in the old school way of doing things, but it often takes revitalization of character and of technique – and, in Fiore’s case, of business acumen – to thrive in this tattoo age.
“We’re looking forward to the evolution that Red Lotus is going through, and we’re looking to being a part of the revitalization of Lansdale again. It’s a good thing,” he said. “Lansdale has a ‘Main Street America’ feeling and that’s what drew me here – everyone is accommodating. I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
Red Lotus Tattoo Co. opens Sept. 1 at 308 W. Main St. Its hours are Noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome. Visit Red Lotus online at www.redlotus-tattoo.com.
