Fresh start in Palma: Deniz Gülpen and daughter Kiana focus on tattoos, art and fashion

Fresh start in Palma: Deniz Gülpen and daughter Kiana focus on tattoos, art and fashion

From gastronomy to a creative shop – mother and daughter search for space in the city centre

On a cool December morning, when the rain quietly taps on the cobblestones of Plaça Major and the last Christmas shoppers stroll along Carrer de Sant Miquel, an emigrant family is once again at the drawing board, as seen in Emigrants on the Island: Two Couples Start Anew – How Mallorca Benefits. Deniz Gülpen, who has lived in Mallorca for several years, wants to start anew professionally together with her 18-year-old daughter Kiana – and this time without a stove and a gas canister.

The idea is simple yet multifaceted: a shop in Palma that brings tattoo art, visual arts and small fashion projects together under one roof. Kiana, who already has modelling experience on the island and in New York and has continued to develop artistically, prefers a city-centre location. Deniz, meanwhile, looks pragmatically at space and surroundings: only when the right property is found will the concept be finalised.

For those who remember the former venue on Playa de Palma: the phase with goulash and the bustle on the promenade is over. After the restaurant closed two years ago, the family's professional profile shifted. The kitchen gives way to canvas, tattoo needle and sewing machine. Gastronomy is not on the agenda this time – a conscious decision, says Deniz, who has learned a lot in recent years, not least about how differently business models operate on the island.

For Palma, such a space would be an asset: more variety in the city centre, job opportunities for young creatives and another meeting place away from pure tourist routes. In the streets around Passeig del Born and the La Lonja district there are already small studios and tattoo shops that are regularly visited by locals and guests, similar to the story With Tattoos, Harley and Child: Yvonne Builds Her Life in Mallorca. A new concept that combines exhibitions, studio work and handmade fashion could help disperse visitor flows and create new synergies.

Practically speaking, this means flexible shop spaces, modular work areas and regular opening hours for appointments, workshops and small pop-up shows. Collaborations with local artists, temporary fashion shows or tattoo days with guest tattooists are conceivable. Such formats bring not only revenue but also conversations into the streets – exactly what Palma's city centre needs in quieter months.

The story behind it is also a personal one: Deniz moved to Mallorca with her family in 2020, a move echoing stories like New Home, New Calm: Marco and Tamara Gülpen Move into Mallorca Dream House. Life by the sea, walks along the beach and the adjustment to island living have shown her how priorities can shift. The separation from her former partner left traces, but also space for something new. Now the desire is at the forefront to build something of their own with her daughter, something that connects creativity, craftsmanship and community.

For neighbours and passers-by this would mean an open shop window, a place for exhibitions, maybe a few young people working with brushes and needles while buses honk toward the harbour outside. The situation is typically Mallorcan: first find the location, then adapt the offering to the surroundings. This flexibility could also make the project resilient to seasonal fluctuations, as other newcomers have adapted in stories such as New Start in El Arenal: The Haudes, Their Boat "The Phoenix" and Life on Deck.

A small piece of everyday advice from Palma: get involved instead of just watching. Anyone who supports local creatives gives them space to breathe. If Deniz and Kiana actually find the right shop, open days, introductory workshops or joint actions with neighbouring stores could ease the start. For the two of them it's not just a business plan, but a new beginning with a lot of heart and a dedication to craftsmanship.

In the end the city itself remains the sounding board: Palma, with its noisy taxis, its cafés on the Passeig and the artists on Plaça del Mercat, offers room for such stories. In the coming months we will watch where exactly mother and daughter open their doors – and hope for one more creative corner of Palma.