Another downtown business is closing, but this time the owner says it’s because of a transition to a different business model rather than a lack of foot traffic.
“I know there are a lot of other businesses leaving downtown, but mine is less about being downtown and more about life changes,” said Benny DeWitt, owner of Good Heart Tattoos. “I’m going solo and moving into a private, appointment-based set up.”
DeWitt converted the former Corso Jewelers space at 414 E. Monroe St. into a tattoo studio, opening in November 2019 and later expanding to accommodate several other tattoo artists who were working with him.
Now, DeWitt said the other artists are working independently and he’s decided to share space with his wife, Jordan Minder, who has her own photography business.
“I love it here (downtown), but with the new model I don’t need so much space,” DeWitt said. “What Jordan and I do showcases each other’s work pretty well.”
DeWitt said he and his wife have a commercial space that won’t be open to the public.
“It’s not going to be a walk-in studio with all the hustle and bustle,” DeWitt said, “just an art-forward type of space.”
Jan. 9 will be the final day of operations for the downtown location.