(Credit: Pedro Wolfe, 2022)
Gold Tiger Tatoo parlor owner Mike Maney stands in his latest location at 508 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Over 20 years, he has moved this shop from Broadway, to Church Street, and back to Broadway.
Gold Tiger Tattoo has relocated into the heart of Saratoga Springs at 508 Broadway. Owner Mike Maney opened the doors to his new location April 15, and is eager to expand his business to a broader audience.
“Business has been surprisingly good,” said Maney. “Last time I was on Broadway it wasn’t that impressive.”
This is the second time Gold Tiger has moved since it opened in 2001. It ran at 78 Church Street for over 10 years, and at 489 Broadway for 10 years prior to that. He has been in the tattoo business for over 35 years. Before Gold Tiger, he owned shops in Albany, New York City, Texas, and Florida.
The move to this location was prompted when their last building was sold by its owners. Hatsational, a retailer previously located at 506 and 508 Broadway, recently consolidated its premises into a single storefront, opening up a space just in time for Gold Tiger’s move.
[Read about Hatsational, here.]
Maney said he appreciates the new location, which is about 300 square feet bigger than their last spot.
Gold Tiger also has another location on 72 Henry St. which has been open for the past two years.
Running a tattoo shop has been difficult these past few years, Maney said. Both of his shops were forced closed due to COVID between March and June 2020.
Businesses in the personal care services industry like tattoo parlors, nail salons, and barbershops saw their employment rates drop by 70% at the onset of the pandemic, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As conditions return to normal, openings like Gold Tiger’s represent a hopeful sign for the industry.
“Like all small businesses that temporarily closed, we paid the same bills with no income at the time. Many did not survive,” he said.
Maney loves the area, and welcomes the opportunity to continue his and his artist’s work at the new expanded location, he said.
He said: “Saratoga Springs has been very good to us. It's a great town. And we do a nice tattoo for a fair price. That's the bottom line. That's what's always worked.”