Miya Bailey, 50, has operated in Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill neighborhood for nearly two decades, and is fighting a city shutdown order that he says stems from a misunderstanding about a 2008 ordinance designed to protect his establishment.
On April 16, the City of Ink Tattoos received a stop-work order from city ordinance enforcement, forcing Bailey to close the tattoo studio, which has served as the financial engine for multiple art galleries and community projects in the historically industrial neighborhood.
“City of Ink is originally an art gallery that happened to have a tattoo studio inside of it,” Bailey said. “We use that money from tattooing to fund a community center, to fund our curated art galleries.”
The shutdown stems from a 2008 ordinance that Bailey says he helped create with then-Councilman Kwanza Hall to prevent additional tattoo shops from opening in Castleberry Hill. The ordinance was intended to protect Bailey’s business from competition, but current code enforcement officers apparently misunderstood its purpose.
“The code enforcer didn’t know how long we’ve been here or what we were doing,” Bailey said. “Atlanta hires code enforcement officers who aren’t familiar with their communities.”
Bailey opened City of Ink in 2007 when Castleberry Hill was largely abandoned, with only Off the Hook Barber Shop and a now-closed pizza restaurant as neighbors. The tattoo studio funded multiple ventures, including Peter Street Station, Nina Baldwin Gallery, Old Rabbit Gallery, and various community art projects.
The business employed about nine artists before the shutdown. Bailey continues paying rent, utilities, and insurance on the closed location while operating his galleries to stay afloat.
“Everything is self-funded by selling art and making tattoos,” Bailey said.
The closure is part of what Bailey describes as a broader pattern of aggressive code enforcement targeting small businesses across Atlanta. He has been in court for nearly a year on various citations, including violations for changing promotional vinyl on windows and other minor infractions.
During court appearances, Bailey said he witnessed elderly residents receiving citations for minor violations, including a 91-year-old woman cited for tall grass and an 80-year-old man cited for working on his car in his yard.
“A system without empathy is not for the people,” Bailey said, criticizing what he sees as overly aggressive enforcement that lacks understanding of community needs and cultural practices.
“It just feels like gentrification is happening,” Bailey said, suggesting the pressure may be related to the 2026 World Cup, with Mercedes-Benz Stadium located nearby.
Bailey cites support from current City Councilman Jason Dozier, former Councilman Kwanza Hall, the neighborhood planning unit, and the Castleberry Hill community. He adds that the mayor’s office has indicated it will try to help resolve what officials called “a mix-up in paperwork.”
Plushette Ellis, chief operating officer for the Walkers and Peters project, praised Bailey’s community impact.
“City of Ink isn’t just a business, it’s a cultural landmark in Castleberry Hill. It laid the foundation for the art and creative economy we see here today. “
Bailey will appear before the city’s zoning board on Thursday, July 17, at noon to appeal the shutdown order.
“I’m really asking Atlanta to come out and support, help out,” Bailey said. “When City of Ink reopens, we’ll have a big block party.”
