An East Austin tattoo shop, Studio Ink, is picking up the pieces this holiday season after a drunk driver crashed into their storefront on December 7, causing significant damage and forcing the business to halt operations for over a week. According to FOX 7 Austin, the driver, identified as 47-year-old John Kim, was subsequently arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.
The impact shattered the front window and left part of the wall that connects Studio Ink to a neighboring Domino's Pizza severely damaged. This event led to both businesses facing closures, with Domino's expecting a months-long cessation because its kitchen was ravaged, while Studio Ink missed out on crucial holiday business during its eight-day shutdown. Mark Strong, Studio Ink's owner, told FOX 7 Austin, "We were out of business for eight straight days, you know, during the holiday season where, yeah, we could certainly have used the income from doing the work. Weren't able to."
Remarkably, no injuries were reported in the incident, though the destruction was evident with the car having bent a solid steel I-beam significantly. Strong expressed relief that no one was present during the crash, stating in an interview with KVUE, "Usually, somebody would be sitting right here at the front desk, so just timing, it was amazing that nobody was sitting here when it happened because that glass completely blew out like a shotgun."
Despite insurance covering the repairs, the disruption has left Studio Ink's five tattoo artists without their means to earn a livelihood during the repair process, which Strong estimates could take six to eight weeks. In response, an online fundraiser has been created to help offset the loss of income, and so far has reached nearly $1,000 Strong has expressed gratitude for the community's support saying, "We are super grateful and thankful," and according to KVUE, "So many people have reached out not only monetarily, but also with well wishes and people making sure that everybody's OK. We have some of the best clients, friends and people in our tattoo community." Studio Ink managed to reopen on December 16, proudly displaying a sign directing patrons to the undamaged tattoo stations and a team of artists eager to resume their craft.
