La Plata, MD— Inside an olive green suite are pale gray walls, reclaimed sliding wooden doors, displayed art and a brightly lit marquee “53” sign placed on repurposed slabs of wood above the register.
This is not a vintage coffee shop; this is La Plata’s newest and only tattoo and art studio, Shop 53 Custom Tattoo & Art Studio, which opened May 13.
Owners, Shannon Wang, commission artist and Mona Wise, tattoo artist, strived for a “calm atmosphere, cool design, clean looking, and a mix of modern and industrial style,” Wang said.
Wang and Wise explained that the marquee sign, which they previously owned, was the muse of the shop’s name.
Shop 53 has three tattoo artists, including Wise, Kim Ewell, and Cas Loll, as well as an apprentice, Leah Myers.
Unexpectedly there are no tables with dozens of books or pictures to search through for a standard tattoo because the owners want each tattoo to be custom. However, that is not the only unique aspect about the studio, it is also operated by all women.
Although the shop is composed of just women, its customers are a mix of both men and women, Wang said. “We’re all girls, but we are not a ‘girly’ shop,” Wang said.
“We definitely wanted the shop to be not intimidating like other tattoo shops are around here, which has [attracted a little bit older clientele],” Wise said. “I think it’s because they feel comfortable coming in here; it’s kind of a chill atmosphere.”
Derrick Becker, 37, of La Plata has one tattoo from Shop 53 and said he has another already scheduled. “I was amazed because most tattoo shops are intimidating with loud music,” he said. Becker said he wouldn’t even call Shop 53 a tattoo shop; he would call it a studio because it differs from the norm. “The music isn’t blaring, there’s not a lot of in and out foot traffic, it’s clean and there is art to look at,” he said. “It’s relaxing.”
The art gallery section of Shop 53 displays work from different local artists for visitors to enjoy. “The gallery changes every three months or so and it’s just local artists, and that’s Maryland, Virginia and D.C.,” Wang said. “We don’t just stick to Charles County. We try to spread the circumference of the area a little bit more.”
“We have an open party every time it switches out, and the next one is Dec. 3, Wang said. “It’s going to be the first themed one. We’re super excited about it.”
There will be about 18 different artists showing “everything from cross-stitching to multimedia projects to paintings” that will all be bee themed. The Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers will also be attending the event to talk about different things the community can do to save the bees, Wang said.
Wang is currently painting a 7 foot by 43 foot community music mural for La Plata’s Island Music Company, which will be on the side of the exterior of its building located on La Grange Avenue. It is cut into panels and “it’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever done,” she said.
Wang and Wise said they not only rely on Facebook and other social media for advertisement of their shop, but local businesses have been a big help as well. “All of [Shop 53’s] neighbors have been really awesome, and created a buzz in the neighborhood,” Wang said. “[They tell people that] when you hear tattoo shop, you think one thing, and then you come in and see how different we are from every place else.”
“I always wanted to have some business that mixed art with other things, and we just were in a position to start something new and tattooing and the art gallery just made perfect sense to make a whole art experience,” Wang said.
Shop 53’s art gallery is open to the public Monday-Saturday noon to 8 p.m. and offers tattooing and piercing by walk-in or appointment. It is located at 6 St. Mary’s Ave. Suite 102 in La Plaata.
