ALBANY>> The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announces the celebration and grand opening of Modern Body Art’s new, larger location at 7 South Pearl Street on Friday, February 13, 2015 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The media and public are invited to attend the event which will include refreshments and special pricing on select services at Modern Body Art and the proprietor’s adjoining businesses Patsy’s Barbershop and Patsy’s Pinups. Formerly located on Howard Street in downtown Albany, owner William Yager moved the tattoo shop to a larger location to expand existing business, become a more visible retail entity on the streets of Downtown, and to accommodate the growing national market trend. According to Yager, Modern Body Art has seen a widening client base including octogenarians getting their first pieces, a trend he suggests reflects the changing times of personal interest and the workplace mindset. In fact, a September 2014 article in Fortune magazine reported major corporations like Starbucks and PetSmart recently relaxed dress codes to allow employees to show their tattoos. Additionally, according to a Harris Poll, in 2012, for the first time in US history, more women (23%) than men (19%) had tattoos. While historically many people have chosen pieces to differentiate themselves, Yager notes an up tick in what he calls “new tradition” tattoo business – groups who are having matching pieces done to commemorate an event, memorialize a person, or anything in between. The Capital Region will see that message materialized both in an advertising campaign launching on February 13 and in Modern Body Art, where groups of three or more people who get the same tattoo will receive a special price thru March 14, 2015. The move from its former location meant growing from 500 square feet to 3,400 square feet and has allowed the business to add more space for merchandise, increased privacy and space for tattoo design, consultation and application as well as individuals getting body piercings. As part of the expansion, Yager also hired a full-time manager to oversee the five tattoo artists, two apprentices and two piercers, and handle the day-to-day operations. "In just the last six months, two new businesses have opened in this corridor of South Pearl Street, and with the expansion of Modern Body Art it is clear that business owners continue to see the value of operating Downtown," says Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan. Located at the corner of 90 State Street, and toward the Times Union Center, the new location allows for continued visibility as thousands of people walk and drive by each day. “As we watch the landscape of Downtown continue to evolve, Modern Body Art has selected a great location to benefit from the increasing foot traffic we anticipate as Wellington Row, Renaissance by Marriott, the Capital Center and 120 new residential units begin to come online as early as March,” says Georgette Steffens, executive director of the Downtown Albany BID. “As the number of visitors, employees and residents grows and diversifies, services like the ones provided by Modern Body Art continue to prove you can get everything you need and/or want right in Downtown.”  “I have invested my entire life into downtown Albany, and over the course of the last five years I have turned Modern Body Art into a state-of-the-art facility with all of the latest accoutrements and sterilization technology available, all so that our clients can be confident they are patronizing the best tattoo shop” says Yager, who also owns Patsy’s Barbershop and Patsy’s Pinups. “Our award-winning and nationally-recognized artists elevate Modern Body Art, and that is something we truly pride ourselves on.” In addition to the special pricing on New Tradition tattoos, those who attend February 13 celebration will have the opportunity to get $13 haircuts at Patsy’s Barbershop, $13 blowouts at Patsy’s Pinups and select $31 tattoos all in honor of Friday the 13th. Full event details can be found online. Modern Body art is located at 7 South Pearl Street in downtown Albany. For more information, contact them at 518.426.8282 |  www.albanymodernbodyart.com | Facebook.