Tori Ear Piercing Celebrates Return To Port Washington's Main Street

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Tori Ear Piercing is set to celebrate its return to Main Street, Port Washington, with a grand re-opening. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for noon Thursday, the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce said.

Tori Ear Piercing came full circle, having started on Main Street when Valentina Hartman opened 18 years ago. The business downsized after four years and transferred to Willowdale Avenue. But Hartman ached for a return to the downtown and purchased the building at 167 Main Street last July.

"I’m very into being part of the community and being part of everything that goes on on Main Street," Hartman, 49, told Patch. "Port Holiday Magic, Port Outdoors. All of that stuff, so that was definitely a big part of it."

While Tori Ear Piercing specializes in children, the business serves everyone. Hartman believed there was a lack of ear piercing specialists.

"Most people have to go to a jewelry store where they do ear piercing or a body piercing studio, which is a totally different vibe," she said. "I’ve known kids who have walked into body piercing or tattoo places and walked out. It’s just not the vibe. I wanted to have something that specializes in babies and is really warm and welcoming for all ages."

Hartman numbs the ears and pierces them simultaneously for kids who are afraid and want to get the process over with, she explained.

The business was lovingly named for Hartman's daughter, Tori.

Hartman used to work as an account executive at Shiseido Cosmetics before she had Tori and raised her as a single mother.

"Things were not great," Hartman said. "I knew I didn’t want anyone else raising my daughter. I didn’t want to put her in daycare."

Hartman had been piercing ears since she was 16 years old and cutting hair since 18. She quit her job at Shiseido Cosmetics because she decided she wanted to raise Tori herself.

At first, her business was Tori’s Place for Kids. Hartman offered haircuts and birthday parties when she decided to add ear piercing to her services.

"My daughter was raised in a hair salon in a play pen," Hartman said. "Slowly, after a little while, I noticed the ear piercing was doing better than the actual haircuts and a lot of doctors recommended us, and we got a lot of good reviews. My body was shot from cutting hair and cutting kids' hair. I said, 'I'm gonna do this and turn this into an ear piercing studio.' Everyone was like, 'You’re out of your mind.' 'There’s no such thing as an ear piercing studio.' I was like, 'You know, we’ll see.'"

The gamble paid off, and 18 years later, Hartman has her own building on Main Street.

Tori just finished her first year of college. She is learning business and marketing, and Hartman said her daughter will one day assume the ear piercing studio.

Hartman said she is thankful to the community for being so understanding years ago when she opened up while raising Tori.

"I had to close down to do stuff. In between haircuts, I had to change her diaper and do all this stuff. I just feel like the community welcomed me with open arms. All the parents and everybody were so, so sweet. I feel it’s very important to be a part of the community and really appreciate all that and give back to the community."

Hartman said she has her own earring collection coming out "real soon."

"So that’s pretty exciting," she said.