Charlottesville Tattoo Shop Moves After Renovation Issues
Ben Around Tattoos has relocated from West Main Street to a new space on Rose Hill Drive following building safety concerns.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Ben Around Tattoos has relocated from its longtime storefront at 703 W. Main St. to 633-A Rose Hill Dr. The move follows the shop's closure on June 17, 2026, after renovation work on the former building rendered the space unsafe.
Why it matters
The relocation was forced by safety hazards stemming from extensive building renovations and necessary asbestos abatement. The displacement marks a major shift for the business, which had occupied its West Main Street location since 2006.
The West Main Street building was purchased by Rock Mountain LLC for $2.2 million in April 2025. Paragon Solutions, Inc. provided a $6,000 estimate for the decontamination of the shop space.
The players
Ben Around Tattoos
This local business is a tattoo studio that operated on West Main Street for two decades before relocating due to property renovations.
Rock Mountain LLC
This private investment firm is the entity that purchased the West Main Street commercial building in April 2025.
Department of Neighborhood Development Services
This municipal department oversees city building permits and urban development standards in Charlottesville.
Paragon Solutions, Inc.
This contracting firm provided the cost estimate for space decontamination services following the discovery of asbestos.
The details
Renovations at the West Main site, which included asbestos removal, created unsafe conditions that forced the business to cease operations. The shop now plans to restart its services at its new 1948-built location on Rose Hill Drive in early 2027.
Timeline
Ben Around Tattoos occupied 703 W. Main St. starting in 2006.
Rock Mountain LLC purchased the West Main building in April 2025.
The city issued building permits for renovations in March 2026.
The business closed on June 17, 2026.
An additional permit for asbestos abatement was issued on October 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
This relocation highlights the tension between legacy business operations and ongoing property redevelopment in growing urban corridors. The shift underscores how private commercial investments often force long-standing tenants to navigate unplanned moves during building upgrades.
Regular customers will need to adjust to the new location on Rose Hill Drive after the business remained closed through late 2026. The move ensures the studio can resume operations in a space that has been cleared of construction-related safety hazards.
The takeaway
Business owners in historic or older commercial districts must often contend with sudden displacement when property owners initiate large-scale renovations. Planning for potential environmental remediation like asbestos removal is a critical contingency for long-term commercial leases.
What happens next
Ben Around Tattoos is scheduled to reopen at its new facility on Rose Hill Drive in early 2027.
Further reading
Find more updates on local business shifts in the Charlottesville Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by C-VILLE Weekly.
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Should developers prioritize minimizing disruption to existing local businesses during building renovations?
