Spider Tattooz plans February reopening at new spot after Sycamore City Council approval

“To lose him was heartbreaking, but to keep his business here, it’s just so sweet,” said Ward 3 Alderwoman Nancy Copple

Historic downtown Sycamore along Route 64 in Sycamore, IL

SYCAMORE - The new operator of a Sycamore tattoo shop formerly owned by a late alderman hopes to reopen at a new location near downtown in February.

Spider Tattooz received final approval through a 7-0 Sycamore City Council vote Tuesday for a new permit to reopen at a location blocks from downtown. The tattoo parlor and body shop was formerly owned by late Ward 4 Alderman Rick “Spider” Kramer who died in November 2020 after a battle with throat cancer.

“It feels great to be able to open again, to get it done for Spider and his wife too,” said Brian Fleetwood, who took over the business in January 2021. “I am excited to finally get back at it.”

The new location will open at its new location, in a strip at 325 E. State St., Sycamore.

The tattoo parlor was one of the three businesses in Sycamore that sustained damage in September of 2020 at its old location at 126 E. 1/2 State St. The fire caused $500,000 worth of damage to the building, which also housed World Famous Pizza and State Street Laundry, a laundromat where the fire was reported to have started.

Since that time, the building has been demolished, and Fleetwood has searched for a new place to set up shop.

Council members on Tuesday said reopening Spider Tattooz is another way to honor the late alderman’s legacy.

“I think it’s awesome, because Spider was one of our aldermen, he was such a great guy,” said Ward 3 Alderwoman Nancy Copple. “When I first started, Spider took me under his wing, he had so much experience.”

“To lose him was heartbreaking, but to keep his business here, I really appreciate Mr. Fleetwood for doing that, it’s just so sweet,” Copple said.

When Fleetwood initially took over operations for the parlor he was granted a special use permit in January 2021 to reopen at 220 East State Street. That plan later fell through, according to city documents. Since then, Fleetwood settled on the 325 E. State St. location, across from Sycamore Animal Hospital.

According to a social media post published Tuesday night after the city council meeting on the business’s Facebook page, Spider Tattooz could reopen by mid-February.

“Thank you for your patience while I found the right spot to keep this going,” the post reads. “Looking forward to setting up appointments.”


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