Sioux Falls tattoo shop Vishnu Bunny relocates after 13 years downtown

Vishnu Bunny , a well-known tattoo and piercing shop, is moving out of its downtown location at the end of the month after the building space was sold to another buyer, according to an announcement made Monday on Facebook.

The landlord of the building, Susan E. Scott, sold the properties at 202 and 204 S. Phillips Ave., ( Primp boutique next door), on May 31 to what is listed as “Chancy One LLC” for $1,300,000, more than 73% over the property’s full value, according to a commercial sales report with Minnehaha County .

Primp Boutique will continue to operate in its location downtown, given it's locked into its lease for a few more years. Vishnu Bunny’s month-to-month lease ends Sept. 30.

Vishnu Bunny Tattoo and Piercing is moving. There, I wrote it out, so now it's really happening. Long story short, we...

Posted by Vishnu Bunny Tattoo and Piercing on Monday, September 2, 2024

Vishnu Bunny has been what many consider a downtown staple for nearly 13 years of the 24 the parlor has been in business. Owner Jeff Mann said they were notified on late May by their landlord that she had entered a “negotiation to sell” and would close around June 1.

“They (the new owners) came in person in April and they didn’t say why they were coming in,” Mann said.

After contacting the landlord, Mann was told that “an inspector would be coming in to do appraisals for her estate purposes,” he said. He also stated that it was an unusually large group that came to look over the space.

“That's a lot of people to show up for one appraisal, so we kind of knew what was up,” Mann said.

The buyer was confirmed by both Mann and the property’s new co-owner, Paul Ode, to be the Ode brothers, a group of five brothers who own OdeCo, their family-owned and operated commercial and residential construction business.

The Ode family already has a presence in downtown Sioux Falls as the owners of Crawford’s Bar & Grill and Wagoo Burger at Fernson Brewing Company Downtown. Paul Ode is also a real estate agent through Harr and Lemme Real Estate, Inc .

Ode said they have been looking for a downtown space for more than a year and knew Vishnu Bunny had a monthly lease.

More: Downtown restaurant Crawford's sells to new owners

Ode confirmed that a liquor license was purchased for the new space and said a new bar or restaurant experience was “more than likely.” He said more details will be shared in the next few months.

“We are excited for what we're doing," Ode said. "I think it's going to be fun."

Ode said he thinks the food and beverage industry is what really brings people downtown to "add to that diversity of what's already down there."

More: WoodGrain Brewing in downtown Sioux Falls announces change of ownership before 9th anniversary

Mann said, however, that downtown business owners “appreciate an ecosystem that kind of works for all the businesses.”

With a variety of shop and restaurant business hours, he said it creates an “ebb and flow.”

“I know a lot of business owners feel if they keep putting in more bars, it eventually is going to slow down daytime business,” Mann said.

In early June, Mann was informed by Ode that the family had other plans for the property and that the timeline was uncertain. When Mann followed up, the answer was the same, he said.

By July 16, Mann heard back from the new owners, saying they needed to be moved out by Aug. 15 to begin some construction work.

Mann was able to negotiate for one more month in their current space and will move to another location by next month. As of now, that location is to be determined, given owners with open spaces are hesitant to rent to tattoo and piercing shops, Mann said.

“There are very limited options for a tattoo and piercing business,” Mann said on Vishnu Bunny’s Facebook post . “Turns out that the negative perceptions of a tattoo shop from the last century are still following us. In other words, people don't want a tattoo shop in their neighborhood.”

Although Mann said they do have a fallback space outside of downtown, they are hoping to find a space in the downtown neighborhood where they have built a sense of community.

“It took us three years of knocking on doors to get downtown the first time,” Mann explained. “Everyone we reached out to as soon as they heard the nature of our business, it was a no.”

A space finally became available downtown in 2012.

“I think a lot of people down there thought we were going to have Hells Angels lining the block,” Mann chuckled.

Eventually, the stigma of their business industry faded and Vishnu Bunny was able to conduct business and give back to the community through events that benefit organizations such as the Children’s Inn and Family Visitation Center , Bishop Dudley Hospitality House , Voices Against Cancer, Sioux Falls Pride, Sioux Falls Humane Society and several art shows through Third Eye Gallery .

“We've just done everything we can to be a good member of the community down there,” Mann said.

Vishnu Bunny plans to be able to continue events with the art gallery in their new space, he said.

More: How a Sioux Falls art gallery and tattoo parlor is trying to end student lunch debt

Vishnu Bunny will be commemorating its last art gallery at the current location from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, a tradition held every DTSF First Friday.

“Stay tuned and stay engaged with us,” Mann said in Vishnu’s Facebook post. “We're moving, however, we are not going away and all the awesomeness that YOU have helped create will follow us to our next great adventure. No matter what the address is. We will see you there.”

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls tattoo shop Vishnu Bunny relocates after 13 years downtown