History - Since 1970

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After 43 years in Arlington, VA, Rick's Tattoo Studio has a new home in Bailey’s Crossroads at 5916 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA.

Rick was born in D.C. and moved to Arlington, VA in 1952. He got his first tattoo at a studio in Washington, D.C. when he was 14 years old and never looked back. $5 for a little red devil on his left arm.

Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, tattoo shops were a bit rough. Most of the customers were usually drunk and rowdy. At age 18, Rick got his first gig at a tattoo shop in D.C. A guy named Johnny Walker hired Rick to be a bouncer at his shop. Johnny had just left working with Sailor Jerry - the father of old-school traditional tattooing in Honolulu.

Rick used to be a mean guy. That was the nature of the beast back in the day when you were dealing with drunk people in the lobby. But over the years, after his granddaughter was born, he has mellowed. According to Rick, she softened him up. Tattoo shops have bad reputations…and it shouldn’t be like that. Tattooing should be a fun experience with pleasant people, which is why Rick’s Tattoos has been so successful for over four decades in Northern Virginia.

Amy has been taking care of the shop for Rick since 2007. He still stops by every once in a while to check out the new place and hang out with old and new customers!

Any day that ends with a "Y" is a good day for a new tattoo from the oldest shop in VA.

Upload picks of your historic tattoos by Rick below. The older the better.