In the trailer for Season 9 of Black Ink Crew, we watched as the doors of Black Ink on 113th St. in Harlem closed for good. Throughout the trailer and the first few episodes, it was initially believed that the 113th St. location had become another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. 

However, COVID-19 was not the direct cause for Ceaser's decision to permanently close 113th — it was actually due to gentrification. Many NYC residents and business owners know all about the gentrification struggle, which involves buying out urban areas and allowing wealthier people and new businesses to move into the community.

And while Ceaser has been doing very well for himself in the tattooing industry, gentrification has impeded the process of building his empire throughout NYC.

“One thing a lot of people don’t know is that I’m a victim of gentrification,” Ceaser shared exclusively with Distractify. “That was the reason why 113th got closed down. That whole neighborhood is basically gentrified and the landlords can now put whatever tax they want on rent.”

But Ceaser hasn't allowed gentrification to bring him down. He decided to look at the situation from a different angle and made the process work in his favor.

“Anywhere that I feel should have a Black presence, I put a Black Ink there,” Ceaser told us. “We took gentrification as a curse and them trying to move us out. We can do the exact opposite. Why can't we move into their neighborhoods? Why can't we open businesses in their neighborhoods just like they did to us?”