Tuesday, January 26, 1999
Novelty store concerns local residents
WESTWOOD: Illusions’ owner Sarkis hopes to provide tattoos,
massages to patrons, but zoning laws may stop him
By Christine Byrd
Daily Bruin Contributor
Before opening in Westwood at the end of December, Illusions, a
specialty gift and smoke shop, had already caused concern among
neighboring businesses and homeowners who keep a watchful eye on
the types of businesses that come to the village.
Illusions sells novelty items such as candles and aromatherapy
at the front of the store, smoking-related items at the back, and
planned to offer tattoos and body piercings as well. Owner Allen
Sarkis said he previously ran a similar store in Las Vegas.
"Kids want to go play pool, go dancing and have stores like
this, but the (Westwood) homeowners are against that," Sarkis
said.
However, at 1138 Westwood Blvd., Illusions is located in an area
where "amusement enterprises" are prohibited by Los Angeles zoning
codes.
Types of businesses that may be run in the village are also
restricted by the Westwood Village Specific Plan, which was adopted
in 1989 to preserve Westwood as a "retail center that primarily
serves the surrounding community."
Before the shop even opened, Laura Lake, president of Friends of
Westwood, said she received calls from local businesses and
homeowners who were concerned that the shop did not fit the
guidelines set up in the plan.
"If the use is illegal, then it shouldn’t be there," Lake
said.
The organization is composed of Westwood businesses and
homeowners who want to revitalize Westwood while following the
specific plan set out for the village.
The Department of Building and Safety is responsible for
interpreting the zoning laws and determining which businesses are
legal in various zones.
"Tattoo parlors are not strictly prohibited; it depends on the
zone," said Nick Trotta, an associate engineer at the Department of
Building and Safety.
In the zone Illusions is located in, tattoo parlors are
prohibited unless they have a special permit. Since Sarkis was
notified of this, he claims not to be interested in offering
tattoos anymore, although "Coming soon – Henna Tattoo" is still
printed on his business cards.
Body piercing is not specifically mentioned in city law because
it is a relatively new activity, according to Trotta.
"It was not contemplated at the time the laws were written," he
said.
Sarkis said he has not been definitively told whether or not
body piercing will be permitted by the Department of Building and
Safety.
"Body piercing is not on the books," he said. "I want it in
writing."
In response to the calls she received, Lake wrote to city zoning
officials to ask whether the shop could perform piercings and
tattooing. She received a letter back from Jeff McIntyre, the
zoning engineer at the Department of Building and Safety.
"The letter says body piercing is like tattooing, (and therefore
subject to the same restrictions)," Lake said.
McIntyre could not be reached for comment.
Sarkis has already built a small room in his shop designed
specifically for body piercing with vinyl walls that can be easily
sanitized, a sink, sterilizer and needle dispenser. He said he
would hire a worker with a license for body piercing and that the
instruments would be properly sterilized after every use.
Sarkis said his body piercing business would be very safe and
sanitary.
"Others are nasty and dirty; I totally disagree with what
they’re doing because someone could get a disease," he said.
Sholanda Aikens, an employee at Illusions, believes those who
raise concerns about the shop have a "stereotypical image" of the
kind of people who get body piercings.
With a permit for body piercing or tattooing, Sarkis could
legally provide these services, even in Westwood. This permit would
have to be approved by the Los Angeles City Council, according to
Rochelle Ventura, an advisor to Westwood’s city councilman, Mike
Feuer.
Sarkis said he has not spoken to anyone at the councilman’s
office about obtaining permits for body piercing or tattooing.
Since opening, Sarkis has also set up an area for massages. Lake
believes this could also be considered an "amusement enterprise"
and might also be deemed illegal in Westwood.
Though it has not been officially determined, according to
Trotta, massages would be acceptable in Westwood at a spa or health
club with a licensed massage therapist. In the context of a gift or
smoke shop, though, they might be restricted.
McIntyre said in his letter that selling tobacco-related items
is acceptable in the village. In fact, there is already a tobacco
store located in Westwood, according to Lake.
But Lake said she is concerned that the special pipes, papers
and scales sold at Illusions will actually be used for illegal
substances.
In the three weeks since it opened, there have been no
complaints to the community police station across the street
regarding the shop.
"It doesn’t bother me. It shouldn’t bother anybody," said
Elizabeth McDowell, who works at Hair West hair salon near
Illusions.DAVID HILL
Illusions, located on Westwood Boulevard, sells incense and
other novelty items.
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