Legacy Tattoo Isn't Your Typical Parlor

When people think of tattoo parlors, the image that usually comes to mind is a sleazy, cluttered shop full of giant mirrors, dirty tile floors and creepy-looking characters.

But walk into Legacy Tattoo Co., where you’re greeted by soothing colors, soft carpeting, and iPads displaying tattoo and piercing options, and it doesn’t take long to realize this isn’t your typical tattoo parlor.

Located in the Lake Tarpon Shopping Center on U.S. 19, Legacy, formerly known as , is part of a new wave of shops that are breaking away from the old-fashioned, old-school model of tattoo parlors. 

Palm Harbor Patch sat down with 32-year-old Legacy owner Gyasi Heard to discuss his cutting-edge shop and the state of the tattoo industry today.

What made you open a tattoo shop in Palm Harbor?

We (he and former co-owner Clint Wilson) felt this was a good location because it’s on U.S. 19, centrally located between Clearwater and Tarpon Springs, and there really weren’t any quality tattoo shops in this area. 

What makes Legacy different from other tattoo shops?

We recently redesigned the whole place. We changed the interior, added flat screens and iPads, and made the shop a more relaxing place. We wanted to bring a different feel to the shop because people tend to have a negative stereotype of tattoo parlors.

What are the current trends in the tattoo industry?

A few years ago, tribal art, barbed wire and small, individual tats were really in style. Now that has changed to bigger pieces and full sleeves, where all the images are connected and blend into each other. Biomechanical tattoos (ones that look like machinery under the skin) are also really big right now, and large floral prints and retro pinup girls are popular with women.

With piercing, the new wave is microdermals (small gemstones that are anchored to the skin). We can put them almost anywhere now, so people are getting away from the usual ear, nose and belly button peircings and going with those.

How has the tattoo industry changed since you became involved in it?

I got my first tattoo when I was 17 years old, and I developed a love and passion for the art, for the amount of time and effort and skill it takes to design and create a tattoo. 

It’s always been an art form, but now, thanks to ridiculous advances in technology — in the equipment, the needles, the inks — it’s literally become art. It’s unbelievable what people can do now ... as compared to just 5-10 years ago.

Who is your typical client?

We have people come in ranging from 17 to 66 years old. About 30 of them are consistent, repeat customers, and about 40 percent of our business is piercing. 

The difference between clients now is that 90 to 95 percent of them want original art, and they either have their own ideas or they are looking for original ideas from us. They don’t just pick a design out of a book anymore and say, “That’s the one I want.”

Do you ever have to refuse any designs or clients? 

I reserve the right to refuse to ink or pierce anybody if I don’t feel it’s right. For example, we normally won’t do an arm tattoo below the shirt line for minors, or pierce anyone under the age of 16, except under special circumstances. We don’t want anyone to make a mistake they will regret later.

But we don’t refuse any particular designs, even if someone may consider them offensive. This is America … if you want to put something on your body, that’s your choice, whether I agree with it or not.

What do you see in the future of your shop and the tattoo industry?

We already offer in-house financing, which is pretty rare for tattoo parlors. We also plan on adding a laser tattoo removal machine in the near future. That should really enhance our business, both for people who want to remove mistakes and those who want to lighten or remove something to make room for another design.

I think shops like ours are going to become the norm in the business. There are already these types of shops in places like Ybor City, Las Vegas, Texas … it’s part of the natural evolution. Now that society is more accepting of people with tattoos, more people are willing to get them. We want our place to be a reflection of our work and our abilities.

Legacy Tattoo Co.

Address: 36243 U.S. 19 N.

Phone: 727-772-6785

Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, appointment only Sunday