Yuma siblings pursue dream of opening tattoo and barbershop
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was this empire. We visited Empire Ink and Barber Parlor in the Foothills to highlight how this family went from being homeless to now running one of the most successful shops in Yuma.
Aluc-Tec and Ketz Galindo, two siblings who stopped at nothing to make their passion a reality, although they may be living the dream now, it wasn't always like that.
"We didn't have a lot, we were basically homeless, going from grandma's to tia's house," said Aluc-Tec.
"It was mainly just our mom taking care of us. There were times where we didn't have food to eat, there were times where my mom couldn't pay the bills, so we had to help out. That’s the big reason why we started," said Ketz.
They struggled to get by, although they credit family for not only motivation, but for support as well, saying they were always side by side.
"I used to cut hair and she used to tattoo out of our bathroom in our apartment. We always felt like we were always together…so we wanted to do something big where we could get our own places in a big shop," said Aluc-Tec.
They were young kids with a dream, but just like any story, there’s beauty in the struggle.
"I cut my own hair, my mom she fixed me up. She used to cut me and my brothers up, so then I started cutting his hair...I started cutting his hair, I showed a couple people at school on my wrestling team, I know it looked bad. Now I look back and think, 'Dang, I used to mess my brother up,'" expressed Ketz.
The money Aluc made from cutting hair went directly to his family, not only to support them financially but their dreams as well.
"I really really wanted a tattoo for a machine, but I couldn't afford one. After that, I was tattooing all the time in my bathroom," said Aluc.
This was a lot of responsibility for two kids, but they credit their mom for being their back bone and for not only being an amazing mother, but an amazing business partner as well.
Aluc and Ketz say that no matter what your situation, there's always a way to work towards your goals and achieve your dreams.
