Longtime Laughing Buddha clients have had trouble finding the Capitol Hill piercing shop online, but the changes extend beyond its branding. The shop appears to have been sold and is now operating under new ownership, leaving many regulars trying to locate the piercers they knew.

The address is the same, but people familiar with the transition describe a different studio from the one many customers remember. With several longtime staff members no longer affiliated with the shop, clients seeking their usual piercers have been turning up elsewhere on the Hill.

Several former Laughing Buddha piercers, including Colin and LJ, now work at Facet and Form. Returning clients may also recognize John, who is working at Evolve on Broadway.

The shift has also reopened a broader question in piercing: how much does the name on the door tell clients when their trust rests with a specific piercer? A change in ownership and rapid staff turnover can leave customers facing a different experience behind the counter, even if they still recognize the storefront name.