Like good ink, Tattoo Bill’s is a Charlotte staple that has stood the test of time
The late William “Bill” Thigpen never met a stranger, family members say. But when Bill tried to open Tattoo Bill’s in 1999 — a Steele Creek tattoo shop — he faced resistance.
At the time, there were only a few tattoo shops in the Charlotte area (now there are nearly 100), and the idea of a tattoo parlor carried an unshakable stigma.
“There were probably a handful of shops, three or four, in the very beginning in Charlotte,” explained Kenny Thigpen, Bill’s son. “Landlords and owners of strip malls still thought that tattoos were kind of taboo.”
Today, Kenny and his nephew Stewart Thigpen run the day-to-day operations at Tattoo Bill’s, one of Charlotte’s longest-operating, family-owned tattoo shops. This year marks the shop’s 25th anniversary.
Throughout the years, the shop has become a staple for tattoo enthusiasts in Charlotte. In 2023, Charlotte Observer readers chose it as their favorite tattoo shop in the city in a poll with more than 110,000 votes cast.
Since the very beginning, Tattoo Bill’s has been a family endeavor. Kenny’s brother Frank Thigpen is in charge of the laser tattoo-removal service the shop provides, while their mother, Sandra Thigpen, takes care of the books. Before his passing in 2019, brother Chris Thigpen was a body piercer at the shop.
Back to 1999
For Bill, a former Marine from Augusta, Georgia, opening a tattoo shop had always been a dream. Having learned the art from his father and grandfather before him, you could say he was born into the tradition.
“His father and his grandfather did tattoos way back in the day … so it was always in his blood,” Kenny Thigpen said.
Although opening a tattoo shop was always his goal, Bill waited until the time was right — after all, he had a family to support. He worked for General Tire for nearly 30 years, and it wasn’t until after retiring that he finally decided to open his namesake shop.
“You know, raising four kids, being a tattoo artist back then was not the way to go,” Kenny Thigpen told CharlotteFive. “It’s not hip like it is now. He worked there [General Tire] for about 30 years and then finally retired and decided to open up the tattoo shop.”
Tattoo acceptance
While humans have been marking each other with permanent ink for over 5,000 years, the state of North Carolina didn’t begin regulating the practice until 1995.
In the United States during the early to mid-20th century, tattoos were popular among soldiers and military personnel, predominantly men. This was the tattoo culture Bill grew up in. The style emblematic of that time was American traditional, characterized by bold lines, vibrant primary colors and patriotic and nautical motifs — think: eagles, pin-up girls, American flags, anchors and nautical stars.
By the 1990s, tattoos were more mainstream than ever. During this time, there was a stylistic shift towards a new school-style of tattoos with bright colors and vivid, exaggerated imagery.
Of course, the ’90s were also fraught with tribal-style tattoos, butterflies and barbed wire arm bands, popularized by ‘90s actress Pamela Anderson. And who could forget the often-regretful, but always iconic, lower back tat?
As tattoo acceptance grew and tattoo styles evolved, it also became more socially acceptable for women to get inked.
“It went from 60-70 percent men back in 1990 to probably 60-70 percent women getting tattoos now,” Frank Thigpen said, reflecting on the ever-evolving nature of tattoos.
The first shop
Tattoo Bill’s debuted in October 1999 in a strip mall at 9640 S. Tryon St. The original shop was a modest 900 square feet, but the family made it work. At first, the studio simply offered tattoos.
About a year in, Bill’s son Chris Thigpen became the studio’s body piercer. In 2008, Bill’s other son Frank Thigpen joined, offering laser tattoo removal services. Sandra stayed on top of the books. According to her, Bill liked it that way.
“Bill always said he wouldn’t have had nothing if it wasn’t for me,” Sandra Thigpen joked. “Because I kept his credit good.”
As business boomed and Tattoo Bill’s grew in popularity, the shop expanded and eventually took over the space next door.
Tattoo Bill’s today
In 2020, Tattoo Bill’s moved to its current location, a 3,500-square-foot facility a mile from its original spot. Today, the studio is home to nine artists who specialize in a variety of different styles varying from American traditional and Japanese to black and gray realism. The shop also employs two body piercers and still offers laser tattoo-removal service.
Throughout the years, the family has seen Charlotte evolve before their eyes. Not only have views on tattoos changed, but the city is completely different than it was a quarter of a century ago.
When it comes to the shop’s longevity, Kenny Thigpen says it’s simple.
“Due to a good name and a good following and good people, that’s how we’ve stayed in business,” he explained. “And we try to be fair every day.”
Sadly, both Bill and his son Chris died within six months of each other in 2019. However, their memory lives on through the family’s ongoing dedication to the tattoo shop.
“When we moved into this place in 2020, I think [Bill] had a hand in it,” Sandra said, holding back her emotion. ‘He wasn’t with us, but he guided us and helped us get in here and continue his legacy.”
Other notable Charlotte tattoo shops
In the mid-’90s and early 2000s, tattoo studios slowly began popping up across Charlotte. While many of the city’s original shops from that time period have since closed, a few, like Tattoo Bill’s, have stuck around, leaving a lasting mark on Charlotte — both literally and figuratively.
In 1995, Nikki Thompson opened Nikki’s Tattoo Studio, establishing itself as one of Charlotte’s first woman-owned tattoo shops. Ace Custom Tattoo, located in Plaza Midwood, has been a fixture in the scene since 1996 with tattoo artist Rodney Raines taking ownership in 2003.
Artist Steve Huntsberry opened Immortal Images in 1995. Today the shop operates as a private, appointment-based studio. Cosmic Tattoos (formerly Alien Ink) opened its doors in 2002 under owner Emily Hefley, a self-described “Deadhead,” who, according to the shop’s Instagram, offers discounts to anyone who gets a Grateful Dead inspired tattoo.
Prior to his tragic passing in February 2024, Randy Herring of Skin Art by Randy, a tattoo shop in Gastonia, was an early pioneer and staple in Charlotte’s tattoo community.
Celebrating 25 years
Tattoo Bill’s will host a 25th anniversary party on Saturday, Oct. 5. Stop by the tattoo shop, meet the family who runs it and get a tattoo or piercing while you’re there.
Tattoo Bill’s
Location: 10823 John Price Rd F, Charlotte, NC 28273
When: Oct. 5, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
What to expect: catered food, giveaways, Tattoo Bill’s t-shirts and raffles throughout the day.
Instagram: @tattoobillscharlotte
