Tucci’s Tattoo Parlor & Skate Shop

Tattooing, Skating, and Baby Alligator: Inside Tucci's Tattoo & Skate Shop 

Outside View

    Fall is quickly approaching in Bloomsburg, all the leaves are falling and turning yellow on the sidewalks of Main Street. Walking down Main Street, a quirky shop is next to Capital Bar and Grill. A bold sign says "Tucci's Tattoo & Skate Shop", looking through a large window,  customers will see colorful purple and blue lights, with cobwebs, skulls, and a taxidermied wolf. There's a large neon sign that quickly flashes "Mystery tattoos get what you get..." and once that door is opened you're greeted by Halloween fully in swing, decorations of mini pumpkins and skulls, all welcoming the second you enter. 

    The shop gives off an edgy and mysterious vibe, with electric energy the second you walk in. Framed tattoo sketches, cultural artifacts, and Halloween masks, hung all over the walls alongside a massive printed copy of Van Gogh's Starry Night. As guests sit on one of the black couches in the waiting area they'll notice a large tank with a baby alligator inside it. It's an exotic and interesting pet to have at a tattoo parlor, but it adds to the edgy vibe. While you're lounging you can participate in receiving a mystery tattoo from the red 50-cent machine, it's a playful way to tease customers into getting a cool or ridiculous tattoo. The shop is owned by Tucci, otherwise known as Isaiah. Isaiah is one of the tattoo artists, he greets every customer in a quiet voice. Covered head to toe in tattoos and piercings, he is welcoming and not intimidating. Isaiah is well respected, his presence is known the second he walks in the door, and while he's a bit socially awkward he has a lot of respect from his employees. Another respected employee is Sarah, the shop's only piercer. Sarah is very loud with a warm and nurturing presence, she cares deeply for the baby alligator, and she's always chatting with Isaiah or Cody. 

Alligator Tank & The Walking Dead

"Can I hold the alligator while you do it?" she asked Cody with a grin, already walking towards the tank.

 

"If you don't move a lot" Cody replied. 

Cody is the other tattoo artist, and he's a big softie, with a bit of a country accent you can immediately tell he loves his job and enjoys tattooing. 

Inside the Life of Tucci's Shop

The journey to opening Tucci's Tattoo & Skate Shop was fueled with passion and love for Isaiah's talent. 

"This shop has been open at this location for about two months now, but we've been in Bloomsburg for two years." shared Isaiah. 

The addition of the skate part of the shop, came after Isaiah had met a friend and they shared a vision, "It was just an idea, and we made it happen." said Isaiah effortlessly. 

Isaiah is firm in his confidence as a tattoo artist, when asked if he's ever doubted his ability, his response was a chuckling "no." Though he remains humble about his success. 

"I was self-taught, studied for about three to four years, and now I've been doing this for over ten years," Isaiah said. 

Tucci's work schedule is just as intense, with his other artist Cody covering the 10 am-5 pm shift on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Isaiah comes every day and takes the 5 pm-10 pm shift. While Isaiah's nights are busy, he finds a lot of joy in his work and talent, especially when it comes to his customers. When asked what the most rewarding part of the job is he answered "Oh, the posting rewarding part is seeing everyone happy with what they get after it's done". His shop often draws the attention of young college students, who in his words love to get small dainty tattoos above their knees, behind the ear, and above the wrists and elbows. 

While every shop has its own stories and lore, Tucci's is one with fun stories and backgrounds. Isaiah recalls one of the craziest requests he's ever received "This one lady wanted a tiger above her... couch area", he said laughing and shaking his head. But while the unusual requests may keep things interesting all of Isaiah's inspiration truly comes from his brother, another tattoo artist. 

"My brother made me want to start," he says.

"But I think I overpowered him with my art because I've been doin' it a little longer now." 

Tucci's shop is always buzzing with noise whether it's from the tattoo/piercing guns, the music, or The Walking Dead playing on the TV, there's always something happening. Isaiah's team usually holds special events to keep all the energy alive. "We've got the Bloomsburg Fair coming up, and we do flash sales for every holiday," Isaiah explains. At the Bloomsburg fair, Tucci and his team have a tent where they do $10.00 tattoos every year. Now whether it's flash tattoos or spontaneous piercing deals, there's always something interesting happening at Tucci's.