Las Vegas Tattoo Co. Established 1977
Going through the categories used to rank U.S. cities in the recent Trashiest U.S. Cities (read list article below or click here) I was surprised to find "number of tattoo shops" as one of the deciders for trashiest. So, I began to wonder when Las Vegas got its first tattoo shop. It would probably be in the downtown area where almost everything that is now the town's first or oldest got it's start.
After cruising around downtown I noticed a number of tattoo shops; but most appeared to be relatively new businesses. Since I was in the downtown neighbohood I pulled into the parking lot at Gold & Silver Pawn on Las Vegas Blvd to check out what's happening with the pawn boys and to my surprise, the windshield filled with the bright green Las Vegas Tattoo Co.
Established in 1977 by internationally acclaimed tattoo artist, Doc Dog, who has since moved to his shop in Tampa, FL the fluorescent green building continues to stand and appeared to be open. Incidentally, Doc Dog help to create the rules and regulations that make Las Vegas tattoo shops a safe place to visit. When he applied for a license in 1977 there were no permits to open a tattoo joint. Way back then tattoo parlours were illegal in Las Vegas. After Doc Dog's joint opened it would be another 14 years before a second tattoo business license was issued.
FYI: Las Vegas Tattoo Co. anchors a corner of a parking lot at The Gold & Sliver Pawn Shop so go see both for the price of one trip. Although there are postings on the Internet that The Las Vegas Tattoo Shop has closed and been replaced by an adult shop, these unfounded rumors are exactly that, unfounded and untrue. A recent stop by the Las Vegas Tattoo Co. brought a hardy round of laughs from the ink artists that staff the studio when I ask, "Are you open?"
The Las Vegas Tattoo Co. is located at 731 Las Vegas Blvd. South next to the pawn guys. Just look for Chumlee's black Maserati.
