Fluer De Lis Tattoo Means Big Money

There is one bright spot in the New Orleans’ slow economic recovery: sales of Fleur De Lis tattoos are booming.

Snake’s Tattoo Parlor of New Orleans yesterday announced plans to develop a drive-up tat-shop at the high profile Uptown intersection of St. Charles and Napoleon avenues.

The site is currently occupied by a Rite Aid drugstore that never reopened after Hurricane Katrina and is being demolished. Richard “Snake” Richaud, 53, plans to begin building his branch during the third quarter of this year and officially open it by the first quarter of 2008.

“We were looking to expand our presence Uptown to meet the needs of individuals in that part of the city,” Snake said.

“It’s just a vibrant neighborhood. And with all these youngsters getting Fleur-de-Lis’s on their backsides and whatnot, it’s a no brainer.”

The new location will employ four people who will staff six drive-up lanes. There also will be one drive-up piercing lane. It will have a lobby equipped with an ATM, a daiquiri machine, and an electronic kiosk from which customers can check online banking information.

The new location at St. Charles Ave. is intended to replace operations at a Marrero branch.

Richaud has been steadily renovating and reopening branches shuttered by Katrina. On April 23 the inkster reopened his branch at South Claiborne Ave., and on April 30 he reopened his Eastover branch in eastern New Orleans. This summer, Snake’s Tattoo Parlor expects to reopen branches on Canal Street and Canal Boulevard.

“They just can’t get enough of them Fleur de Lis’s” Richaud affirmed.

Customer Monique DiGiovanni says, “Getting this tat, is so @#%ing awesome. It’s like my own way of rebuilding New Orleans and stuff.”

More Articles in Business »