After nearly two years in Park City, Latin Times Parlour will leave town at the end of December.“The reason I’m planning on moving is because they sold the building, and the new owner wants to raise our rent like 40%,” said Red Haro, tattoo master and owner of Latin Times Parlour. “We already pay (high rates), and it’s just way out of our budget right now. Overhead and everything is just too expensive.” Haro’s dream of owning a shop came true when Latin Times opened in Park City in early 2023, and it had seemed meant to be.“Everything fell into place. The same day we came up here, we locked in the building,” said Haro.They received all of the necessary permits and zoning permissions the same day, too. With over two decades of experience, Haro was well prepared to establish his shop — a comfortable place for the customer getting tattooed and for the artist tattooing. Latin Times has become a space for creative freedom, one without judgment and open to people from all walks of life, he said.Red Haro, tattoo master and owner of Latin Times Parlour, works on a tattoo with a client. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“The vision and the dream was to have a Latino shop,” said Haro. “Not Latino art, but Latino artists. We want other people to come in and get tattooed by us with different types of art from different types of Latinos.”Creating a place for Latino artists was a key part of this vision. Haro said that there are a lot of Latino tattoo artists who feel they won’t be given an opportunity at a shop or that they won’t be accepted because of a misconception that tattoo shops are only white-owned and operated. As Latino artists, they can connect with the significance behind many people’s tattoos and personal stories. Haro said he wanted to create a place where Hispanics could come in and express their culture, especially since religion holds significant meaning for many in the community. He wanted them to feel safe and comfortable discussing the meaning behind their tattoos rather than the artist just pulling up an image and tattooing it without any discussion or understanding of its significance. “The Hispanic community out here is way bigger than what people think,” said Haro. “It’s just that they put their heads down and grind.”Sadie Kolb gets her first tattoo from Naz Pankavycj. The tattoo design was of a labyrinth and represents what she learned about having a home birth. Kolb said it means, “no right or wrong turns in your life if you just keep moving forward.” Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordMost he knows have more than one job, he said. “They’re always working. All of them have two, three jobs. I don’t think there has been a single Hispanic that I’ve tattooed from Park City, Heber or Kamas area that doesn’t have two jobs. There’s some that have three jobs.”He explained that as Hispanics, he wants his team to “take it to the next level,” to be recognized not only as talented artists but also for the excellence they bring to their craft, breaking free from misconceptions that often hold them back.Latin Times established itself as a place people could trust to get a good result, Haro said, and 70% of his clients are returning customers.“We had someone come from Reno the other day,” he said. Haro, who was not always an artist, attributes his success and skills to his hard work. He said that many people will express that he is “so lucky to know how to draw,” but in reality, it’s a result of his determination. “I’ve just been grinding. I’ve been trying to do this, learn this,” said Haro. “It’s not really luck. It’s how much effort you put into things, like anything in life. … They say that when people have work ethic, they’ll beat anybody that’s naturally talented, and I think that’s true. If you want something, you learn it.”Haro also credited his team’s ability, hard work and refinement they put into their craft. Latin Times has an artist to complete any tattoo request, he said.Edgar Gomez works on a tattoo at Latin Times Parlour. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“We have our different styles,” said Haro. “If you’re trying to do a portrait, then I’m your guy. If you’re trying to get something like hyper realism, Nas would be your guy. If you want some color with bold lines, Edgar would be your guy. And Sydney, with the piercings.”Haro encouraged anyone wanting to get tattooed to reach out and get on the books. While Park City may not be their home when the new year begins, they plan to be around at a not-too-distant location still to be determined. Haro said he sees it as just another step in the process. “​​It’s a learning experience, right? Nothing is ever a bad experience. You just have to learn from whatever it is that you’re going through, good or bad,” said Haro. “And it’s not really a bad thing. It’s just learning. You might lose something, but it’s not really losing, like, (losing) money on the businesses? OK, you paid for knowledge. You just have to look at it differently. Instead of, ‘Oh man, I’m down on my luck,’ (it’s) you learn something. You just don’t know it yet.”In the same way that everything seemed to fall into place when Latin Times opened in Park City, Haro has faith that whatever comes next will work out.“My dream is to have four or five shops, make Latin Times a franchise, but it’s one step at a time,” said Haro. “Right now I’m in phase one, and phase one takes a couple of years before you start thinking about phase two.”Haro hasn’t discarded the idea of returning to Park City one day and, more than anything, he encourages everyone to keep supporting local businesses.“Especially the Hispanic community,” he said. “It’s always a good thing when you see Hispanics coming together and helping each other out. There’s a lot of Hispanics up here that have a lot of good things to offer. It’s just so expensive for them to get started, but there’s a lot of potential. Eventually, they’ll get there. They’ll find a way. As Hispanics, we will always find a way.”To get in touch with Latin Times Parlour or schedule a session, visit their location at 875 Iron Horse Drive, Suite C, or call at 385-789-7240.You can also view their work on their Instagram account @latintimesparlour.Red Haro, tattoo master and owner of Latin Times Parlour, talks to a client. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordThe post Latino-owned tattoo shop faces reality of soaring rent, leaving town appeared first on Park Record.