BLACK INK CREW Everything you need to know about Black Ink New Orleans
Ceaser Emanuel and the rest of the Black Ink Crew are back, and Ceaser’s empire is spreading like never before. The latest tattoo parlor to bear the Black Ink name, down NOLA way, is Ceaser’s fifth — but where is Black Ink New Orleans, exactly? And how is it different from the rest of the jewels in his crown?
Ceaser Emanuel’s growth shows no signs of slowing
The Black Ink brand’s expansion into Atlanta was a major storyline throughout Black Ink Crew Season 6. And now that the show is back for Season 7, it looks like Black Ink New Orleans will be at least as big a part of the new episodes.
But the overall trend is that Ceaser keeps opening new shops and expanding his reach into ever more diverse areas. So far, there’s a total of five Black Ink tattoo shops: two in New York City, and one each in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Orlando. Additionally, Ceaser signed the lease for a sixth shop earlier this year, in Philadelphia; it just isn’t open yet.
So far, none of Ceaser’s other shops have reality TV spinoffs of their own — though it’s been widely reported that casting and filming are being planned for Atlanta and Orlando at least. (Click here for our report on the two potential Black Ink spinoffs.)
Where is Black Ink New Orleans? What’s its address?
Black Ink New Orleans’ street address is 2220 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans LA 70119. It’s right in the heart of New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood, just north of downtown and northwest of the French Quarter. The shop’s official site is still under construction, though it’s largely functional; for more regular updates, you’re better off following on Instagram.
The pristine location isn’t doing anything to hurt business — nor is the fact that the shop’s grand opening earlier this summer coincided with Essence Fest 2018. Ceaser shared a few clips from the grand opening, and, to use his words, it definitely looked like a movie in terms of scope and spectacle. Here’s a glimpse:
As far as the tattoo side of things goes, Ceaser made a splash earlier this year by hiring notables Jay Mckay and Inkfiendz to serve as part of the shop’s staff.
Here’s an early look at what to expect when Harlem comes to NOLA, courtesy of VH1:
But, ever the businessman, Ceaser had one more trick up his sleeve. You don’t have to be in the mood for a tattoo to visit the shop, since its primary function is actually as a bar and restaurant. I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about this combination, as it sounded a little bit like eating from the buffet at a strip club. (Granted, I’ve never actually done this, so maybe those $3.99 steaks are the real deal.) But the Black Ink restaurant reviews appear to be pretty good, so you can probably put that concern aside.
Black Ink Crew has an unexpected connection to another reality show
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out something obscure and interesting that I discovered while researching for this article. Though Black Ink New Orleans opened this past July, the entire Black Ink Crew cast was in town a few months earlier for the lease signing jamboree. After Ceaser put pen to paper, at least a few of the cast members went out for a celebratory meal at Morrow’s.
Why is that relevant? The Marigny-based restaurant celebrated in the city’s African-American community and based in a building owned by Sidney Torres, star of CNBC sleeper hit The Deed. Here’s chef and owner Larry Morrow posing with Black Ink Crew‘s Teddy Ruks and Ceaser’s publicist Andrea Sunday:
A gratuitous tie-in perhaps — but maybe Ceaser’s prowess as a businessman is just rubbing off on me.
Black Ink New Orleans’ big TV debut comes tonight, when Black Ink Crew Season 7 premieres at 9 on VH1.
(Photo credits: Where is Black Ink New Orleans via Instagram)
John Sharp is a Starcasm’s chief editorial correspondent-at-large. Tips: E-mail at john@starcasm.net or send on Twitter at @john_starcasm.
