No one expected a tattoo parlor with Gothic appeal to open on Bainbridge Avenue, a low-key commercial strip surrounded by family-style apartments, hospitals, parks and churches. But Oscar Zaldivar, owner of the new tattoo shop, The Coven, between 206th and 207th streets, has never been one to act in line with people’s “expectations.”

Zaldivar, known as “Oz,” has lived in the Bronx for over 30 years. He used to own a comic book store down the street, and has also worked in a nearby grocery store and pet shop. “I’ve even volunteered at the St. Brendan School, on Halloween of course,” Oz adds, chuckling, his smile revealing another side of him.

Oz has permanently adopted vampire fangs in place of his incisors and dons an impressive array of gothic tattoos up and down his arms.

His appearance has led to some unfortunate (and downright mistaken) assumptions about his character. “People think we’re devil worshippers!” Oz says, adding that he is occasionally required to wipe spit off the storefront’s window. The jovial Oz finds humor in these reactions.

Despite the Gothic décor, Oz says he is running a “family-oriented” business. “We want to treat you like you’re being invited into our home,” he says.

The atmosphere inside is small and friendly: the inside of the shop being just big enough for two tattoo chairs, a small waiting area, and a little room to maneuver.

On a recent afternoon, Oz’s wife, Gloria Lampell, stood at the front desk and the second tattoo artist, Mike Figueroa, sat nearby, waiting for customers. Though they have only been open for a few weeks, Oz says business is slowly trickling in, mostly at night.

Safety is the new shop’s top priority, Oz says, which helps separate The Coven from any competition. “There are plenty of tattooists working from home in the area, but we’re tattoo artists,” he says. “The shop offers us security, and we offer completely sterile equipment.” This, Oz hopes, will assuage potential customer’s fears about the possible transmission of AIDS and hepatitis through used needles.

Oz urges everyone in the neighborhood to stop by, not just for tattoos, but also for the conversation. “Come in, ask us questions,” he says. “See what we’re really about.”

Ed. Note: The Coven tattoo shop is located on Bainbridge Avenue, near 206th Street. It’s open Tues. thru Thurs., noon to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., noon to midnight; and Sun., noon to 4 p.m.
 

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.