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GLOVERSVILLE — Brayden Loria, 21, was standing outside of Gloversville’s newest tattoo spot on Saturday, contemplating whether he was up to get inked for the first time.
The corner of South Main Street and Western Fulton Street has lately become something of a hub for alternative culture in the Glove Cities. Two businesses offer body art and beauty treatments, respectively.
“I figured I would check it out,” said Loria, who noted that he was sent a link regarding a grand-opening celebration.
“Maybe he’ll get his first one and me, another,” said Loria’s girlfriend, Destiny Muniz.
Both studios are owned by Anastasia Lott and have a variation of the same name. The Color Coven – Beauty Lounge was founded in late 2020 about 400 feet from its current location, and the Color Coven – INK has only been around for three months now.
The close connection between both studios, Lott said, is art.
“I’m an artist myself,” Lott said. “I work with all different mediums: the hair, the tattooing, the drawing, painting, baking even — everything is art to me.”
The 26-year-old, one of downtown Gloversville’s youngest entrepreneurs, started her career as a tattoo apprentice and bartender after dropping out of high school. After about five years in the body art industry, she transitioned to cosmetology and briefly lived in Tampa.
Upon moving back, Lott started the Color Coven beauty lounge, eventually settling at 42 South Main Street. Services have included haircuts, coloring, blowouts, extensions, makeup, and even tarot card readings, along with selling crystals. Operating in a larger space since early May 1, the studio now offers a space for reiki treatments and moonlight watch parties (moon worship is a common practice among New Age, pagan and Wiccan spiritualists).
With the addition of a tattoo and piercing studio next door, for Lott, the brand seems to work.
“With the alternative flare that we have, it actually crosses very well,” said Lott. “We market to a certain clientele of course — the alternative crowd — but we do have a lot of small business owners and a lot of blondes you wouldn’t expect to be in here.”
Lott employs tattoo artist Nick Mochrie, who worked in Galway for three years. He said that working in the rural Saratoga County area offered few opportunities for his work to flourish.
“At least out here, Gloversville is rebuilding itself and it’s becoming a little bit more alternative,” Mochrie said. “There’s been a lot more open doors and open availability.”
The abutting lot at 12-18 South Main Street is slated to become the Littauer Piazza, a public square with public square and concert venue under Gloversville’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative plan. The space housed the century-plus-old Littauer Building until it was demolished in 2021.
A number of businesses popping up in the area, including Kay’s Beautique and Ricmar Design, remain optimistic that city’s 12 partially state-funded DRI projects will breathe new life into the post-industrial community.
Previously occupying the Color Coven – Beauty Lounge was Freya’s Forest, a plant shop owned by a member of the Asatru Folk Assembly hate group. The Norse-themed florist also sold flags showing known hate symbols.
As soon as Lott moved in around April, the old building was smudged, a spiritual practice in which herbs are burned to clear out negative energy.
“We did everything,” Lott said.
Lott plans to expand services, potentially making room for a eyelash services in the future. That service, she added, has been difficult to include because there is already a high number of lash artists in the area.
The owner still plans to continue working on the floor at both shops.
“I just like uplifting people and when you see the look on their face, like somebody will cry, seeing them gasping, freaking out,” Lott said. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
COLOR COVEN – BEAUTY LOUNGE
Where: 2 South Main Street, Gloversville
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: 518-752-4145
COLOR COVEN – INK
Where: 10 South Main Street
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 518-844-4705
Tyler A. McNeil can be reached at 518-395-3047 or [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook at Tyler A. McNeil, Daily Gazette or X @TylerAMcNeil.
