Stop By These Local Shops
By JANNA ZEPP and TONYA WARREN | Contributed photos
Dragon Lady Tattoos
HARKER HEIGHTS
Are you ready to ring in the new year showing some decorated skin? Has your significant other been needling you to get matching tattoos? If you answered yes to either question, head over to Dragon Lady Tattoos in Harker Heights.
“Tattoos have been part of the human race for thousands of years,” says owner Rena Hoot, adding that she has tattooed many doctors, nurses, teachers and police personnel over the years. Indeed, a 2007 Smithsonian magazine article reveals the 1991 discovery of markings on the Iceman on the Italian Austrian border. They were what we now call tattoos. Carbon dating suggested Iceman to be over 5,000 years old.
Hoot has always enjoyed expressing creativity through oil painting, so opening a tattoo shop in 1982 fell in line with her interests. This type of occupation has historically seen more men involved than women, and Hoot said, “For a girl it was hard to learn, but I did it.”
Our body’s largest organ is our skin, and it’s also our first line of defense against infection so rules are in place to help keep everyone safe. According to the state health department, proof of training is needed as well as successful completion of blood born pathogen training to be licensed. Adhering to infection control protocols and maintaining client records are two of many state laws that govern the occupation. The client also must understand possible risks associated with tattoos such as site pain, infection, difficulty in future attempts at covering or lessening the tattoo, and more. A waiver must be signed, and those under age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign for them.
Dragon Lady Tattoos has many designs to choose from, or the client may have their own idea. Hoot discourages young people, especially, from getting a tattoo of their current love interest. Hoot also says some designs just do not ink well.
It is illegal to receive a tattoo if you’ve had one too many at a bar, lest you end up like the character in Jimmy Buffett’s 1977 hit, “Margaritaville.” He hadn’t a clue as to how the inked “Mexican cutie” wound up as skin souvenir. The Dragon Lady is ready to give your skin a new look from an art that has been practiced for centuries. Salt shaker not included.
The Parlour Oddities & Antiques
TEMPLE
There is a little bit of Addams Family chic in downtown Temple on Main Street in the guise of The Parlour Oddities & Antiques. Athena (a mononym) and her husband, Paul Cobo, opened the store about two years ago to give Central Texas a little bit of a different — if somewhat Gothic — twist on vintage items and antiques.
“It’s actually surreal. Sometimes I can’t even believe that this is my shop,” Athena says, smiling. “But I saved up. I had inventory saved and I went for it, and we’ve been successful thus far every day.”
The Parlour is full of all sorts of wonderfully elegantly creepy curios, classic clothing, and quite a few well-maintained taxidermy displays worthy of Fred and Lilly Munster’s own home. It would not be surprising if Morticia Addams were stationed in a corner of the store, clipping the heads off roses, and saying that what is normal for the spider is chaos to the fly.
It’s hard to walk away from The Parlour without having purchased something and the experience is delightfully unforgettable. It’s a fantastic place to go Christmas shopping for that friend or family member whose tastes are best described as eclectic and unique. It’s also a must-see stop on Main Street in Downtown Temple to bring the tribe from out of town.
Whimsies
BELTON
Allison Turner always dreamed of owning a boutique. Turner had a successful education career with Belton Independent School District, then Central Texas Christian School.
Turner said she became friends with Joy Schneider, the original owner of Whimsies Boutique when it was in Temple, and she was one of Schneider’s customers.
At first, Turner said she joked that she would buy the business if Schneider was ever interested in selling it. Eventually the talk became serious, and Turner purchased the store.
The store offers women’s and children’s clothing, accessories, jewelry and unique home décor. Whimsies was opened by Schneider at its original location on Riverside Trail in Temple on property she owned. The business was purchased by Allison Turner in August 2016 and moved to its current location at 408 Lake Road in Belton in November 2017.
“So, I completely changed careers,” Turner said. “But it’s been really fun. I miss the kids, but it’s been a lot of fun. And I love working with my sister, Angie (Haire). That’s been a fun experience.”
Turner said Whimsies’ original location in Temple was in a beautiful spot, but it was tucked away and not easy to get to.
“We wanted to be more centrally located, easier to access and near more commercial activity,” she said. “And we love this area.”
Turner said moving the entire store was hard work, but it went quickly.
“We had a lot of help from close friends and family,” she said. “Got it moved pretty quick; we had a moving sale over there, and then about a week later we opened here, so it was super exciting.”
Turner said she loves picking out unique items for people in the community and working with close friends and family members. She said Whimsies is also making a conscious effort to support local charities, including Foster Love of Bell County.
MAKS Mercantile
SALADO
There’s a new kid on the block, or rather a new shop on Main Street in Salado that is open just in time for the holidays. MAKS Mercantile, located in the old Horsefeathers house, harbors a shopping experience that combines handmade merchandise with a crafting experience and seasonal items.
MAKS combines the first initials of its owners, Megan Randig, Ashley Doss, Karyn Morris and Stephanie Spasny. The four women are friends who each own their own shops in Taylor and had worked together in some form or fashion, including event planning, for quite a while.
Spasny says she’s closed her shop in Taylor to focus full time on the new one in Salado, but the other Taylor shops are still open, and they each have a boutique room representing those businesses in the Salado shop.
“We were having coffee together one day and were looking to create a partnership. The idea for MAKS originated out of that,” Spasny says. “Salado had the perfect location available in the house that once held Horsefeathers, which was my favorite shop to visit after I brought my children up here to play in the creek.”
Beyond the boutique rooms, MAKS central hallway features items from Texas makers and creators. Woodburn art, jewelry, leatherworks, dried floral designs, self-care items, and custom signs line the hallway for customers to find as they shop. The back room features children’s items and the MAKS pantry features kitchen and entertaining items. There’s also a Hat Bar, at which customers can design hats with found items, ribbons, and vintage curiosities.
“One of my partners’ boutique rooms is filled with seasonal items,” Spasny says. “That one is only open seasonally, so get here often to make sure you don’t miss it.”
