Refuge Tattoo and Taza coffee shop reopens following devastating February flood

Hartford small business owners are celebrating a fresh start after months of repairs following a flood that forced the closure of their tattoo shop and café.

Refuge Tattoo and Taza Café officially reopened Friday after a burst pipe flooded the business with roughly 10 inches of water earlier this year. Community members, friends and local leaders gathered on Pratt Street to welcome the business back.

“It was heartbreaking and it felt like everything we had worked for had just washed away,” said co-owner Yaritza Garrido.

The flooding happened in early February when a deep cold snap caused a pipe to burst in the front of the shop.

“I ran downstairs and I just saw black water everywhere,” Sienna Serrano said.

Despite the damage, owners Jose Serrano and Garrido said they were determined to rebuild.

The reopening celebration marked the end of months of repairs and the beginning of a new chapter for the family-run business.

“We were able to take a step back and really hone in on what we wanted to say as a business and what we want to put forward, and so I think we have done a good job,” Garrido said.

Their daughters also played a role in the recovery effort, helping clean up the shop during the rebuilding process.

The business, located in Hartford, had been open for nearly two years when the pipe burst. Now, the owners are looking ahead to a busy summer of events.

Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said the business’ recovery reflects the resilience of the city.

“This is the thing that makes the city great,” Arulampalam said.

He said the owners overcame challenges that could have forced many small businesses to close.

“They overcame something that would have collapsed other small businesses,” Arulampalam said.

For Garrido, the reopening represents more than a return to business.

“Where it could feel like a finish line, I almost feel like it’s a starting point,” Garrido said.

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