NEWS — Family Owned Buisness

As we embark on Studio 21 Tattoo’s 21st year, let’s take a look back and talk about how this tattoo shop paved the way for a new “look” for tattoo shops around the country. The studio combines family, artists with a variety of skills, and tattooers all rolled up into one. 
Among those who have visited Studio 21 Tattoo, many that have entered our studio have been mesmerized by the elliptical design you will notice as soon as you walk through the doors. Every artist has their own personalized booth displayed with art, some art they have created, some art from their favorite creators or things that they love and inspire them. This was something that the Spencer’s really wanted, a better environment for their artists and artists being able to communicate with each other during their sessions if they desired. The Spencers hired an architect who observed them work in their previous shop and often chatted on how they wanted the shop to function. When they were finally shown a rough draft of the shop design, the Spencers were blown away with what he had created for them, something better than what they imagined. At that time, the center ellipse is what made things different, typically shops had pony walls or rows of chairs, but Studio 21 tattoo came up with something better, something more creative for clients and artists. At that time in the early 2000’s not only did it have one of the most unique layouts in the country for a tattoo shop, it was also the largest shop in the great state of Nevada. 
After discussing an endless amount of names, Austin Spencer said, “Let’s just call it Studio 21”, and since it was the beginning of the 21st century, 21 resonates with the city of Las Vegas too well, created by a team of artists, not just tattooers, but painters, illustrators, sculptors and creators, they agreed upon “Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery.”

-Written by Vanessa Torres

Well, the year 2019 is winding down and the Holidays are upon us. It’s been another stellar year at the studio. Time flies when you are having fun and it sure has blown by fast. We are so fortunate to have a wonderful staff to keep our reputation spotless and customers elated. As I sit here writing this, there is a family from San Francisco getting tattoos and hooting it up like there’s no tomorrow! They own a sushi restaurant so they probably need to let off some steam. That happens here a lot. We are in the heart of Sin City after all.

Just wanted to take a moment to let our wonderful customers know how much we appreciate their business. There are about two hundred tattoo shops in Las Vegas. That’s a whole bunch of choices! It always makes us feel good to be selected from a field that large. Everyone here at the studio strives to be the best at what we do. We rarely have a slow day and are still open seven days a week after all these years. Seventeen years to be exact! It’s no easy task to stay on top in this town. Las Vegas is a very fast paced city and people expect to be treated well on very short notice sometimes. As business owners, the Spencer family always wants to know if anyone is displeased with our product or services. It is very rare to hear of a complaint!

Here’s to wishing you all a very happy holiday season. Thank you Becki, Austin, McKenna, Kayla, Chad, Jose, Nick, Das, Travis, Mike and Josh for all that you do to make this studio run like a well oiled machine! Your hard work does not go unnoticed! Looking forward to seeing what the next seventeen years brings. Like one of my tattoo mentors said about twenty years ago when Austin and I were just getting started, “There’s a new batch of eighteen year olds every year!” So true. Thanks again.

Charlie Spencer

Owner/Artist

Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery, Inc.

Studio 21 Tattoo is a family owned business operated by the Spencer family of Las Vegas, Nevada since February of 2003. Charlie, Becki, Austin and Courtney Spencer are the family members responsible for all that transpires here at the studio. The Spencers have actually resided in Las Vegas since 1989. Not your average family, these guys have an interesting story to tell.

Leaving all family and friends behind, the family of four packed into a charcoal grey, brand spankin’ new 1989 Nissan Sentra to see what kind of trouble waited for them in the middle of the desert. Why, people asked? People thought we were crazy..maybe we were. The Spencers were leaving everything they knew along with remaining family members. All the memories, good and bad, and some of  the best BBQ and Blues music in the country .The  80’s were nearing an end and this quirky little crew was ready for something new. In 1989 the Spencer family packed up and took off from Houston, Texas to faboulous Las Vegas, Nevada. Heading out  west having no idea of what to expect, it couldnt have been more exciting, and just a little bit scary.

Fast forward to the year 2003. Charlie and Austin were really rollin’ with their tattoo careers in a community with a huge demand for tattoos and a serious shortage of talented artists. Charlie had begun getting tattooed in ’89 and decided there was a need for change in the Las Vegas tattoo scene. There seemed to be a shortage of customer service in the local industry. Back in those days, you walked into a tattoo parlor and nobody greeted you. It was always smoky and usually didn’t look very clean. That was normal back in those days.

It was decided that it was time to open a small, family tattoo studio. Charlie quit his day job, cashed in his 401k and found a 1300 square foot facility to convert into a place to kill it doing some awesome tattoos. The zoning laws at the time required locating in a less than desirable neighborhood. The first shop was located on Arville Rd. near the Orleans Casino in an industrial district. A great time was had by all at that location. That little place was where the Spencer family did what they do well enough to need to grow the business.

In February of 2006 the studio found a new 2600 square foot location at the corner of Flamingo and Jones, a great location 2.5  miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. The Spencer family decided to pull out all the stops on the new digs. An architect was hired to design the space. This is unheard of in the tattoo industry! It turned out to be a wise decision. Not only was this now the largest tattoo shop in the state of Nevada, but it was the coolest designed space for tattooing most people had seen. With six private booths and a comfortable lobby, this place turned out to be perfect. No regrets!!

The Spencer family continues to work hard at providing a clean, safe, comfortable environment for clients to enjoy their amazing tattoo experience. This is why folks from around the globe continue to return year after year to Studio 21 Tattoo for additional ink from their favorite artist in a super professional atmosphere.