Business & Tech

Studio 54 Offers Tattoos, Piercings

No need to drive to Ybor City. The local shop features artists with more than a decade of experience.

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon at about lunchtime, Studio 54 is packed with customers, waiting to be inked.

Clean and bright, the busy tattoo and piercing shop opened on State Road 54 in Lutz in December 2011.

Most people owner Rich Bonet talked to before opening the studio said they got their work done in south Tampa or Ybor. He and his wife, Alyssa, set up shop to fill a void in the market, and because they saw tremendous growth potential in the area.

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“We have two full-time tattoo artists and one full-time piercer, and we have guest artists all the time,” owner Rich Bonet said. 

Artist Jay Wyckoff has more than 15 years of experience and Bukshot has more than 13 years, Bonet said.

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Bonet is the studio’s body piercer. His experience dates back to his college days at the University of South Florida.

“As a Studio 54 Tattoo policy, all of our artists and piercers have a minimum of 10 years experience, so no rookies here,” Bonet said.

Before coming in to be inked, Bonet said customers should have a basic idea of what they want and allow time for the artist to develop the design into great tattoo.

“In today's age, customers often come in with a picture on their phone and ask for the same exact tattoo,” Bonet said. “Studio 54 Tattoo will not duplicate a tattoo that has been done on someone else, but will create something similar for a customer.

“After all, you wouldn't want someone doing that to your tattoo, right?”

A design can take just a few minutes to several hours, depending on its size and complexity.

“But most people get tattoos that take less than one hour to apply,” Bonet said.

Prices start at $50, and designs have to be viewed by the artist before a price is finalized. Size, detail, complexity, and location on the body can all have an effect on the final price, he said.

“We recommend clients come into the studio for a consultation rather than ask for pricing over the phone, email or Facebook,” Bonet said. 

Studio 54 is open from noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome, as well. 

Read more about Rich Bonet


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