Forget every stereotype you have about a tattoo shop because Oceanside âthe Arcadeâ Tattoo wonât fit any of them.
Oceanside âthe Arcadeâ Tattoo, owned by lifetime Oceanside resident Jason Betz, is more of a museum as well as a place to get a tattoo or piercing.
The Arcade name pays tribute to Oceansideâs original tattoo shop located on the southwest corner of Hill Street (Coast Highway) and Mission Ave. The original Arcade was torn down in the late â70âs to make way for the current theater and shops.
From the heavy timber brackets marked with an âOâ to the more than 130 frames containing flash tattoo art from Oceansideâs past, the beautifully lit shop feels more like an art studio.
It took Jason years to gather his collection of tattoo flash art including pieces of original art from the Arcade. âItâs folk art. Timeless,â explained Jason, âThey show the history of what the world was going through at the time.â
Jasonâs collection includes art from World War II, the Vietnam Era along with pieces from the early 1900âs all created by legendary tattoo artists such as; Norman âSailor Jerryâ Collins, Huck Spaulding, Oceansideâs original tattoo artist, Buzz Clayton, and Ralph E. Johnstone.
To say Jason was born a tattoo artist wouldnât really be stretching the truth; he began tattooing at the ripe old age of eleven! When speaking about his collection of art and tools of the trade, Jasonâs passion is evident.
Five artists work at the Oceanside âthe Arcadeâ Tattoo. âAll of our artists have been tattooing for over 15 years professionally and have the portfolios to back it up,â said Jason. âWe specialize in all types of tattooâs but we donât do foul language, drug or gang tattoos.â
You should have some idea of what you want before you go for a tattoo but if you donât⌠âJust think about things that make you happy, youâre passionate about. Things you will never forget.â Jason said. They also have two computers for customers to do their own research. âSometimes people will have an idea of what they want but when they come in and see all the flash on the walls, decide to go with one of the classics.â
With a roll up front window and a bar to sit and watch the world go by, Jason designed Oceanside âthe Arcadeâ Tattoo as a place where people can be comfortable just hanging out.
To learn more about Oceanside âthe Arcadeâ Tattoo, visit their website: www.arcadetattoo.com, Facebook: facebook.com/oceansidetattoo, Instagram @oceansidetattoo or call 760-439-8288.