‘Get back to opening’: Sycamore City Council approves Spider Tattooz new location special permit

SYCAMORE – A downtown Sycamore tattoo parlor formerly owned by late Fourth Ward alderman Rick “Spider” Kramer is well on its way to getting a new location after this week’s City Council meeting.

Sycamore City Manager Brian Gregory said during the Tuesday meeting held via Zoom that the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously last week to recommend that the city give Brian Fleetwood, who assumed operations of Spider Tattooz during Kramer’s treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer, the special use permit for the shop’s hopeful new location at 220 E. State St. He referred back to the parlor previously operating at 126 ½ E. State St. until a fire significantly damaged the property in September.

“Since that time, Mr. Fleetwood, along with other representatives of Spider Tattooz, has worked with city staff to seek a new location for the business,” Gregory said.

The City Council voted, 8-0, to approve the special use permit Tuesday.

The vote comes after the council unanimously approved in December special use zoning changes for tattoo parlors. Those changes would mean Spider Tattooz could relocate in certain available business spaces on the main floor, as opposed to only being limited to the second floor in some districts.

The special use zoning designation means that, wherever a building use is considered a special use in any zoning district, any petition for the special use in that district is subject to a public hearing and a City Council vote.

Gregory said no one offered testimony during the public hearing for Fleetwood’s proposed special use permit.

“Based on the totality of circumstances and recommendation from the planning and zoning commission, staff would concur and recommend approval of the special use for Mr. Fleetwood and Spider Tattooz,” Gregory said.

Fleetwood, who is slated to be the next owner of the shop, said after the meeting that, among other thoughts and feelings, he felt great following the council’s vote approving the proposed special use permit.

“I’m still riding this high right now,” Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood said eventual renovations for the space are to be expected, since its previous use was a massage parlor. He said he has no idea when the new shop’s opening date will be, since he hasn’t closed on the property ahead of the special use permit approval.

“It was a long process, and I’m just glad that portion’s done and we can kind of move forward and get back to opening,” Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood said it’s a great feeling knowing that Kramer’s name will live on with the shop and he’s grateful to be that much closer to reopening the shop not just for himself, but for Kramer’s wife Gloria and everyone Kramer had ever worked with.

“I’m just excited for all of that,” Fleetwood said.