I travel from Baltimore just to get tatted by Evan. He rocks and so does this tattoo studio

Exceptional detailed Artistry & Unmatched Experience! I'm still in awe of my recent tattoo experience with Evan (@ezbtattoo). Central Tattoo Studio (@centraltattoostudio) is a warm, extremely clean& welcoming space where creativity & expertise come together in perfect harmony. I had searched about four or five years, trying to find an artist that was open to the vision that I had for the masterpiece I was looking to add onto my arm. From the initial consultation to the final touch-ups, Evan listened attentively to my ideas, offered insightful suggestions & skillfully brought our collaborative vision to life. His passion for his craft is palpable & his attention down to the micro detail is unparalleled. Not only my did he etch a stunning work of art in to my arm, but also shared laughs to pass the time, while being hyper focused on creating this masterpiece. We sat there for 8 hours and then another 5 hours for a touch up ( that was part of the original pricing). There were breaks in between that we're appreciate for snacks, avoiding stiffness etc.. The price was on point. Time flew by as the design came to life. I learned so much about the art, history & progression of the industry. I learned about the amazing journey Evan has & is still having of traveling to foreign places to develop his craft with exceptional talent, as well as the dedication & passion required to excel in his field. The end result? A stunning masterpiece that exceeds my expectations! If you're seeking a talented artist who full immerses themselves & is a master at their craft & will not only create a beautiful piece but also make the experience enjoyable & enriching, look no further than Evan. 5 stars, 10/10, would highly recommend to anyone seeking exceptional artistry with attention to detail, calmness & a memorable experience while their masterpiece comes to life. Check out his work on instagram @ezbtattoo You'll feel inspired to get some new ink! Booking: https://ezbtattoo.com/ read more

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My mother in law and I got tattooed by Evan yesterday. We were more than impressed. The hospitality while there and the care he took in taking care of us goes a long way. If you're in Philly or stopping by and want some art, this is the place. Would recommend and will go back. read more

You're not going to find a more talented group of tattoo artists anywhere else in Philly. Murt has been my favorite artist since I relocated to the east coast. He specializes in mostly black & white intricate pieces. Very passionate about what he does, it definitely shows. During my session with him, he was kind and generous enough to go over the lines on my upper piece to balance them out free of charge. His attention to detail goes unparalleled. read more

Central Tattoo Studio - The mountain range tattoo was done by Murt. An absolutely talented artist. - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I found this studio after weeks of searching through Yelp, Instagram, Reddit, etc. I decided to go with Cody after looking through his portfolio and couldn't be happier with the results. After the initial consultation going over what I was looking for, I scheduled an appointment to have the actual work done and put down a deposit. In the weeks leading up, I put together a ton of samples and work (probably way too many) that I wanted to use as references, but Cody reviewed everything and presented me with a sketch a few days before. We emailed back and forth for a few days going through minor adjustments, and Cody was very responsive and helpful throughout the process. The work itself took about 4.5 hours, but wasn't actually too bad to sit through. The studio is very clean and organized. Cody was fun to talk to, and we even got a chance to look at the solar eclipse during a short break. Overall, it was a great experience and I love the artwork and the piece overall. He also offers a free touchup within the year, which is very helpful, particularly with the detailed artwork that he creates. It was a little pricey, but worth the cost. Definitely recommended! (Cody did the wolf patronus as an add on to my deathly hallows) read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was lucky enough to snag an appointment with Rowan and set it up for a time I would be in Philly. I flew in from Arizona and Rowan definitely worked with my schedule to get this awesome piece done. She was very nice and did a great job. Would definitely recommend and go back again! Definitely recommend to follow her IG to see when her books open again. Hope to see here again in the future and get more work done! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

High recommend Central Tattoo Studio! I got tattooed by Evan and had a great experience. He was very knowledgable and kind and an awesome artist. The shop was very clean and welcoming. Will definitely be back in the future! read more

I found this sweet studio after landing on Pete Zebley's work through the World Wide Web. I was so in awe with his portfolio and generally, the classiness of the studio's art that I just knew that i needed to get my tattoo here! Just based off of their previous work I felt a sense of trust that they produce high quality tattoos and it wasn't just about inking folks. I looked through all the artist's work and ended up vibing with John Murrt and Cody Dean's work. I ended up getting a consult with Murrt. He had done a lavender/florals before though, to be fair, his specialty is blackwork and dots. Though florals don't seem like its his thing - my lavender came out absolutely beautiful! The day of - I came in super nervous. It was my first "bigger" tattoo (though most would say it's a small tattoo.) my friends all told me it would feel like a slight tickle or annoyance but to be fair, I have ZERO pain tolerance. Anyways, 30 mins into the tattoo I thought all hell was breaking loose and had to ask for a break. If I had to would I do it again? Yes! it was so beautiful and Murrt had beautiful craftsmanship! But, would I get a third tattoo?? Probably not. I gotsta bebe soft skin that isn't made for ink. read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Lavender by Murrt - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I have been going to Pete Zebley for many years now and was super stoked when he finally opened up his own studio. I first saw him in 2012; I wanted a hummingbird/flower tattoo and had been searching for quite some time for the perfect artist. When I saw his book, I knew he was the one for me. We set up an appointment, I gave him my idea/vision and the artwork he drew up was amazing. We discussed splitting the session into two parts and made the appointments right then and there. His prices are right on target and his shop is super clean and nice. I liked it so much, that I decided to keep going and create a half-sleeve on my left arm. Pete is a wonderful artist who takes great pride in his work. He is kind, patient, funny and someone who wants to make sure that his client is happy in the end. He is down-to-easy and easy to talk to. I felt listened to 100% of the time. With the time and $$ that I invested in my half-arm sleeve, if asked if I would do it all over again with Pete - the answer is yes. I get so many compliments and I can't wait until my next one. read more

Central Tattoo Studio - This was done by the amazing Pete Zebley. Just love it to pieces. - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pete is an artist. He doesn't just tattoo an image on you, he creates beautiful pieces with an artistic approach. I haven't been to his studio but I had a piece done by him while he was in LA. Personally, I find tattoo artists very intimidating because I've never had a good experience with one. Every single one I've met, with the exception of Pete, has been very arrogant, they didn't even want to bother talking to me unless we were on the topic of money. Stay away from those. On the other hand, Pete was super nice and accommodating throughout the whole 8 hour process. Called me up before my session to talk about my ideas and took his time (free of charge) putting the ideas together in a tangible image for me. I was already confident in his ability to create a beautiful piece for me but seeing Pete be very enthusiastic throughout the whole process made me feel comfortable sharing my ideas. PRICE: Some people might be scared by what he charges but he's charging for years of tattooing experience, state of the art tattoo equipment (he has this neat tattoo machine that is supposed to tear the skin less AND it's super quiet compared to most noisy machines) AND he has other cool stuff that makes being tattooed for so many hours a much more pleasant experience. Also, Melissa is super sweet. She was the one answering my emails while Pete was busy! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - This was done by Pete - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ABSOLUTELY READ BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH THIS SHOP!!! This is a review for Pete Zebley and Central Tattoo Studio For those who like short reviews: here are the bullet points: 1. Just because you have a consult, pay your deposit, and show up for your appointment on time- DOES NOT mean that you will get a tattoo. 2. Do not ask for anything remotely out of Pete's comfort zone. 3. If you want anyone else's input on the design, be prepared for a resounding, "NO." 4. His staff lies about the size of the tattoo room so he can tattoo you alone. Trauma victims- this is not a safe space for you. 5. He has a temperamental personality that could potentially result in your tattoo not being finished. For those interested in details, please read below: I met with Pete Zebley at Central Tattoo Studios in mid September for my consult for my tattoo. The consult went ok, but it left me leaving with some slight doubts that Pete could tattoo the specific flowers I wanted. He assured me it would be a challenge but that he could do it. Before I left, he took a picture of my arm. I specifically asked him if he would be emailing me a mock up of the design. He specifically said that he would in a few weeks. I remember this because I requested the mock up due to his uncertainty. A week before my tattoo appointment, I realized I had not received the mock up from Pete as promised. I sent a quick reminder email to the shop letting them know that I hadn't received an image and asking when I can expect one. Nothing. 23 hours before my appointment I called the shop. The woman on the phone informed me that they do not send designs out because they don't want someone taking the artist's work to someone else. I told her that while that made complete sense to me and I respected that, I was told something very different by the artist/owner himself. She was not the brightest crayon in the bunch and none of this was her fault, so I let her off the phone with a promise that she would talk to the artist. Pete ended up emailing me images at 9 pm that night. I can tell you I was not impressed. It was clearly images cut out from the Internet and pasted onto my arm. Still believing he was a talented artist and maybe this was his process, I went the next day. When my friend and I arrived, the receptionist eventually informed me that I was the only one allowed back in the studio because there is just not enough space. I told her that that was nowhere in any of the information I had been given and could she maybe go ask Pete if my friend could stay. She left and never returned. Pete appeared and called my name to come back. We walked three steps up into his studio (which had room for 10 people mind you) and he stopped when he saw my friend following me. He pointed at me and said "No, only you." I said that I thought we were just working on the design initially and I would like her input. He responded, "That's not how I work," while repeatedly shaking his head. My friend graciously left the room despite his rudeness and inflexibility. I quietly told him that if that was his policy and the way that he works, that he should make that clear from the beginning. I said that we had driven an hour to get there and it would have been helpful if that were in the confirmation email. He said that it should have been. I pulled the email up to show him that it wasn't. Well, that flipped something in his delicate brain. All of a sudden he gets really aggressive and angry saying, "Well if it's such a problem, then I'm not doing your tattoo." My mouth flew open and I said, "Seriously?" I actually thought maybe he was joking because it was such a sudden and extreme reaction. I was very peaceful about the whole thing despite the blatant disrespect he was showing us. I was about to argue with him and then I realized this guy is not ok and I absolutely do not want him touching my skin with a needle. I left totally confused and appalled that I had been treated this way for absolutely no reason. Here is my take from this: Pete is obviously a very talented artist but I believe he was sorely underprepared to do my tattoo. I believe he doubted that he could do it. And I believe that he could not own up to either of those things. As a result he was looking for any excuse not to tattoo me. This is a very dangerous personality trait for a tattoo artist. I wasted a couple of months on this guy holding my money for no reason when I could have been working with an actual artist. I do believe that Pete had no intention of touching me with a needle when I walked in that day. I would say if you want anything that isn't absolutely squarely in his comfort zone, look elsewhere. He might say that he can do it, but when push comesshove, he's going to try to make you feel like it's your fault that he can't hack it. He shamed himself, his shop, and his art. Steer clear of this shop and it's owner! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Clearly phoning the design in. Images copied and pasted from google. Some are not even the correct flowers. - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Evan was fantastic!! He was professional, knowledgeable, super nice and made me feel totally relaxed. He has an amazing talent. The shop is super clean. I will be back again for sure! read more

Frank did my work. It is very cool. Very clean and nice taste. Fine lines. I recommend! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Frank did this. It's amazing and I love it. :)))) - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I would like to preface this by saying the artist's work itself is gorgeous, lovely. Murrt is clearly exceptionally talented. However, while I was attempting to finish my tattoo #2 with him, he came down ill. This is fine, it happens. But the times we attempted to reschedule, Murrt cancelled on me three times in total. Two of the three were one hour before the appointment and the third was 1.5 hours before. Due to where I live, I was already on my way and had requested off work for some of these appointments. While I appreciate that he eventually came in on his day off to finish, I found the little cancellation notice very unprofessional. Also, while in the process of this tattoo, I inquired about getting a color tattoo on my right arm. My right arm currently has a small wristband tattoo. I specified that this was not a request to cover up, but that I did not care if the coloring I wanted covered part of the dot line of the wristband. I was informed because of the pre-existing tattoo, I would not be tattoo'd despite the original artist is no longer available (she moved very far :( ) and does not do color. I was rudely informed over the phone "Well, you should have gone to artist who did color in the first place!" I was just shocked that the presence of a wristband tattoo should affect so much what was going to be a half-sleeve request. I understand the artist's right to refuse, but the woman I spoke with on the phone was dismissive, talked over me, and was incredibly rude. It was a shame because I truly love the art produced at this shop. Went elsewhere for my half-sleeve. read more

I received a lovely tattoo a few years ago from Pete Zebley and had a very positive experience at Central Tattoo. While trying to schedule another tattoo, I initially contacted them to book with Pete again. He said that he didn't want to do the tattoo of lilacs and dogwoods I requested (specifically the lilacs) for some unknown reason. I changed my mind to just dogwoods, but his book was closed. I would have had to go on a wait list to *maybe* get booked at the end of the year. I prefered not to wait that long, so I tried to book with Cody Dean, whose work is also lovely. They committed to a consultation with Cody, but then backed out for some mysterious reason. The only explanation I received was that "he did not want to move forward." Apparently over the years, this studio has turned extremely pretentious and rude, even to repeat customers. There are other people who tattoo lovely flowers. Go book with them and avoid the pretentious run around. If it was due to some COVID restriction or booking issue, they should have just said that. I would not be nearly as upset as I am now. read more

I am so happy with this place. Cody did my tattoo and he did an amazing job. He is such a talented artist and very meticulous. He captured my two cats personalities perfectly in his art. He was so lovely to work with and very kind. The place is so clean and very nice inside. It was my first tattoo and I didn't know what to expect but I could not be happier with the experience. Would 100% recommend Cody and central tattoo studio to anyone! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Right before the pandemic started, I was searching for a Tattoo artist in the Philadelphia area to do a Rocky II movie poster image on my leg. I'm a huge fan of Rocky, and have the movie posters in my house, I've flown out to Philly to run the stairs, statue, and the tourist Rocky fan things you can think of. How iconic would it be to fly out there and get the tattoo done in Philadelphia right?? After weeks of searching yelp, google, etc, I found Sean Costello at Central Tattoo Studio in Philly. Out of all the artists in Philadelphia, I believed his work was the best and would feel comfortable with him doing this piece. I also noticed on the Yelp reviews that there have been people in the SF Bay Area and one review from where I lived that had come out to this studio for work. I figured if people from California came out all the way to Philly for work, then they must be that good right? I scheduled the appointment the week that the pandemic hit not knowing the magnitude of it at the time. I don't think anyone did, to be honest. Sean had me waiting 45 minutes before he finally came out for the consultation. I was a little bothered but what the hell, it was my birthday, I was going to get this epic Rocky II movie poster blasted on my leg by one of the best in Philly. During the pandemic, I kept up on the news, followed Sean on IG, and waited for them to reopen. When sanctions were lifted, I reached out to the studio in July and was told he was backlogged with appointments and to check back in Fall/ Winter. Since I was heading out in August 2020 I thought we would be able to get started but I totally understood the backlog of work. I then reached back out last week 01/04/21 to see if he was available for Feb 21' and he wasn't available till March/ April. Then Sean reached out and stated, " I think it would also probably be best, if I am doing the piece, to work on this piece post covid. To be honest, with everything that's going on now I'm not keen on tattooing someone that needs to fly to get tattooed." I get the whole covid thing, but what does someone flying in to get a tattoo to have to do with being able to do the work or not. Flying, driving in, living down the street is no different. Covid is everywhere, if covid is your concern, then you shouldn't be working in the first place. California is the same strain as in Pennsylvania and New York. Why does my piece need to be post covid? I never tested positive out of the hundreds of tests I've taken, and if anything I would be more concerned getting it from a tattoo artist that deals with people out of his household. What about other people that come in for work? Are you not worried about them? I honestly felt when we initially met, and even my girlfriend pointed this out, Sean seemed low key flakey being 45 min late to consultation and gave off some racial vibes. They prob don't get a lot of Latinos going in so I can see why I've been getting the runaround. They knew I was flying in to get this work done back in March, and in July, why is flying for a tattoo an issue now? Lol I ended up telling Sean if you can't do it just say so, and he told me I should find another spot. Which I gladly will. I did the same thing in New York and had a Statue of Liberty blasted on my leg in March 2020 and worked on Aug 2020 and will be back in Feb to have it finished. And guess what? I flew in all those times during covid, no issues. Go figure! lol read more

Pete did my first tattoo in June of last year. It was a piece based off my wedding bouquet and some flowers that were sentimental to me. I did not think I'd get the opportunity to have him tattoo me, because I had moved away from philly to the Bay area. Luckily, he was guest tattooing in San Francisco and had a spot open. Pete was awesome. Very friendly and easy to work with. My tattoo was a long time sitting, but he really made it comfortable for me. I'm still so in love with my tattoo and recently had it photographed. Thank you again pete!!! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Was kept waiting for over an hour only to be ultimately told that the tattoo artist didn't have time to give me, a paying customer, a SMALL tattoo on my arm which was all lines and only would've taken a short amount of time- as confirmed by the tattoo artist themselves (I have a larger tattoo on my opposite arm which took LESS THAN TEN MINUTES). Apparently there were things around the shop that needed to be done although the tattoo had already been designed. read more

I emailed Melissa a little over a month ago to set up an appointment for a consultation with Murt, which was short sweet and to the point. I knew what I wanted and he was more than happy to do it! Made an appointment for the following month. Murt showed me the stencil, asked if I wanted it bigger or smaller, and spent about a half hour working out placement with me and talking me through the process. The space upstairs is completely white and pristine - no clutter, no dirt, hand washing stations, the whole bit. Murt is a quiet yet knowledgeable guy with a beautiful eye for art. Awesome music choices as well. I got a tattoo of Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series on the outside of my left thigh, took about 3 hours, and I'm beyond pleased with it. This was my first tattoo and I really don't think I could have chosen a better artist. Pricing is very reasonable for the quality of work - if I'm going to put something on my body permanently, I'll pay good money for it to be perfect, and perfect it is. I'll be going back to him for some custom work at some point! read more

Pete is an amazing artist! I came to him with a starting point and the end result was beyond my expectations. He was extremely professional, taking the time to be sure every aspect of the tattoo was as it should be prior to beginning his work. His creations are complete works of art and I would (and do) highly recommend him! read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Hummingbird tattoo by Pete Zebley - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I am absolutely thrilled with my experience at Central Tattoo! I got in touch with Pete after seeing his gorgeous portfolio on his website. We made my first appointment for May 2018. Pete was extremely kind, patient, and professional. He made me feel very comfortable despite my nerves! I gave him some ideas of what I was looking for and was so excited to see what he would come up with. When I arrived for my appointment, he showed me his design idea and after a few tweaks he made the stencil. He let me know that since the piece was on the larger side, I didn't have to feel pressure to finish the whole thing in one session. My first sitting took about five hours. It's worth mentioning that I started feeling dizzy and light headed about ten minutes into the tattooing process, and Pete quickly got me a cold compress, hard candies, water, and a fan for my face. He was super chill and gave me space to take a break. The rest of the session went smoothly, and I was blown away by the quality of my piece! It's truly a work of art. I moved out of state shortly after, so I had my piece finished last week while I was in town. Two more hours in the chair and it's done, and more stunning than I could hope for. The whole experience working with Pete was top notch. I cannot recommend him and his team highly enough! read more

I have been to Central Tattoo 3 times over the past 8 months. Specifically to book with Rowan Starr. She did my first tattoo, my second and now my third! She is incredibly talented, professional and engaging. The shop is very clean and all the artists are friendly and encouraging of one another. I truly enjoy my time with Rowan and she always makes sure I am comfortable. Check her out now! read more

I've been working with Cody since the summer designing and completing my half sleeve. I contacted Cody via email and received response in a few days. In my email I detailed my ideas, including a few pictures (my piece is architectural so I included photos of the buildings). An initial consult was scheduled, which lasted around 40 minutes and was free of charge. At the consult, Cody reviewed in detail my ideas, explaining what concepts would and would not work for the tattoo. He reviewed pricing, policies of the shop, and scheduled all of my sessions at the consult when I agreed to the work. It is his policy that art work is emailed digitally 24 hours prior to the initial session. I requested minor changes which were made promptly. My sessions have always been professional and I am pleased with the work. Cody is interesting to talk to and friendly which makes time pass quickly. Following a session he is detailed at explaining aftercare and discussing healing. This piece is not my first tattoo, but it definitely is the best and healing has gone well. In addition, both the ink and products Cody uses are vegan, even though he himself is not vegan. To conclude this review, I wanted to make some general comments about Central as a studio and best practices for getting tattooed. I am early for everything, so I've spent some time in the lobby. During this time I've witness people coming in to the studio requesting walk ins and sometimes some ridiculous stuff (a guy came in asking for a complete sleeve to be done same day without a design for 'a few hundred'). Please research tattooing before you decide to be tattooed! This is permanent decision making. Please research your artist before deciding where to go. Tattooing has evolved stylistically and each artist tends to have a personal best. Central has a high caliber of artists, they charge hourly rates, they do custom designs. If you want flash tattoos Central is not your place. read more

I had my first tattoo done few years back with Pete. It was 1/3 of what it was supposed to be. Now came the time when I decided to continue it and finish it up with Pete as previously scheduled. Yet, because the tattoo contains a lot of red ink and from what I have heard , it may give allergic reactions, I reached out to a "professional" if it is true and maybe if there were some alternatives too the ink or even just changing the color. The only message I have received from a lady working at the studio was that Pete won't be able to take on my project and "thank you for your understanding". Obviously this ignorant and unprofessional behavior is not a good start for making lifetime change on your body and any pleasant experience. I am there for the entire experience not just the copied and pasted tattoo. I thought treating an artist as an artist with imagination is a compliment but seems, Pete is sticking to the "next" individual, which truly hurts and it sucks that it turned out the way it did. Very unprofessional, very princessy, yet talented "artist". read more

I discovered Pete through Instagram and knew I'd be contacting him eventually as soon as I saw his style. He did my first ever tattoo of flowers from my wedding bouquet. I sat for him in Toronto at the NIX Convention this past weekend. The whole thing was a very new experience for me and Pete made it comfortable. There was a LOT going on around him and he still managed to be personable (yet nonchalant) and at the same time create a beautiful, very detailed piece on my shoulder. From what I saw at the convention - Pete surrounds himself with very talented artists and is extremely gifted himself. I've even contacted him since to ask advice on care instructions (since I'm new to tattoos altogether) and he has answered promptly and seemed happy to help. I'm very pleased with his work and I would love to get another tattoo done by him. read more

The Scene: My reference picture clipped to a black metal sheet music stand, the soundtrack to Top Gun, and Frank Rudy, the tattoo artist. In his earlobes dangled white alabaster backgammon pieces, on his hat the words "NEGATIVE APPROACH" -- which I took to mean that he was open to people, even people who are negative, approaching him. The Studio: Clean, bright -- surgically clean and bright. Art Gallery downstairs and Melissa. Her black boxer lounging on his Vintage Hollywood chaise. The Summary: I had an amazing experience as a Walk-In on Friday night at about 5 p.m. Frank had just finished with a patient and had time for me -- I'm awkward and a tattoo newbie and I felt that I could trust him immediately. He is serious about his profession and his creativity. I would go back to him in a heart beat. The price was more than fair for the amount of time he spent with me (over 2 hours) and the workmanship and just the pure level of comfort I felt. I was so comfortable at one point that I am pretty sure I sang along to at least two songs on the Top Gun soundtrack (don't worry, not "Danger Zone"). read more

Pete and his team are amazing. I've been working with Pete on a few large pieces over the last 1.5 years. He is versatile and very creative. I gave him some general concepts and references that he was able to transform into works of art. Tattoos are permanent and you get what you pay for. Working with Pete guarantees high-quality and something your friends and other tattoo lovers will envy. The best demonstration of loyalty and credibility is referrals. Since my initial tattoo with Pete (large back piece), my sister and my best friend both got their first tattoos from him. They were so impressed with the quality of work and my experience with him and his team that there was no one else they even considered. I recommend Pete to everyone I know who is considering a tattoo, as well as anyone who reads this. You will not be disappointed. read more

EDIT: To be clear: My artist is a very professional and talented artist. The issues experienced here were not, in any way, his fault. He was excited to move to this shop though the owner disputes whether or not my artist was really "part" of the shop at all. I'm fairly certain that my artist was not using space because he was "in between shops" The ink seepage or "blow out" from my tattoo is MOST LIKELY a result of the continuous stomping up and down the steps, done mostly by the shop owner's wife, during my tattoo. The table shifted at one point and my artist say "that has never happened before" To be more clear. This review was honest and fair and I made certain to point out the talent here, the cleanliness of the shop, and the overall modern feel of the place. Now. I'm just angry. If you, as a business owner, are going to allow for personal tension to affect PAYING customers, then you may want to take a few business classes or at least buy a business for dummies book. If you cannot handle an honest and fair review, which this is, then you probably should stay off the internet. This isn't 1950. You cannot be a jerk in business and not be called out on it. I've experienced several harsh reviews of my business and I've had to step back and take the reviews for what they are: learning experiences. At no point in the response to this review is there a mention of the stomping up and down the steps. That leaves me to believe that not only was there awareness of what was happening, what was happening was intentional and meant to anger my artist so that he would leave on his own. Except the behavior affected ME. What happened, the negative experience, had nothing to do with MY ARTIST. He is at a great shop now and I'm excited to see him and have more work done. Ask me about how often I'm approached about the work he's done for me. Often. Studio is very clean, aesthetically pleasing, and spacious. Ipad check in is nice, a little more thorough, and prevents the need for paper work for each visit. Philadelphia has a lot of tattoo studios. Some are older and not as pretty. But the artists in those shops, I'm quite sure, would NOT engage in the unprofessional behavior I experienced at Central. My artist left a busier South Street shop to pursue a more appointment driven shop. I expected a clean, professional shop. Upon my arrival, I could immediately sense something was not quite right. Tense. I should have discussed this more with my artists and rescheduled because he and I both had a very negative experience. Central is set up on two floors. I was in a small room on the lower floor. Steps lead up to a larger space on the second floor. No big deal. Unless people are stomping up and down the steps while someone is being tattooed. And. That is exactly what happened. The ENTIRE time. My understanding is that the wife of the shop owner and my artist had some falling out a few weeks prior and the tension was quite obvious. That does not mean that I should be part of the tension. The wife continually stomped up and down the steps repeatedly. DURING MY TATTOO. THE TABLE I WAS ON MOVED. THE NEEDLE JUMPED. MY ARTIST GOT "BACK SPRAY" IN HIS MOUTH In other words, he got my blood and ink all over his lips. Because of stomping up and down the stairs. It is the most unprofessional experience I've had and I had another experience 3 years ago that I thought could not be topped in unprofessional behavior. My disgust with the behavior was made clear. I am quite sure I was over heard (that seemed to be an issue as well) blasting the unprofessional behavior. I have dark green blow out (ink spreading beyond the tattoo under my skin) and I am fairly certain the blow out is the result of the needle jump that sprayed my artists face. People at Central: The behavior is unprofessional and not representative of what Philadelphia tattoo culture is about. I've looked at other artist's work and the shop has a wealth of talent. Professionalism should match the talent. My artist left after this experience and has landed at a great shop on South Street. My understanding is that this is not the first newer artist in this shop to not stay very long due to unprofessional behavior. I know of one other who left quickly. He too is a good artist who was looking for a change. Would I say "don't go here" No. That would be unfair. And wrong. The shop is very pretty and the artists here are talented. If you are going for a tattoo and you are in the room on the first floor, I would probably reschedule or demand to be upstairs. Either that or make it clear that everyone going up and down those steps should be cognizant that tattoos are surgical procedures and stable working environments are kind of necessary so maybe don't stomp up and down the steps while someone is being tattooed. read more

I scheduled a consult with Murt, who took notes as I presented my ideas for the piece. The artists at Central are all fantastic and tend to be booked up weeks in advance. We booked my appointment for a month after the consult. When the time came for my appointment I was impressed with the detail Murt put into the piece. It took him a while to set up as he included some last minute details and resized the piece to ensure it fit my arm perfectly. Murt was professional, kind, and attentive to detail throughout the process. The studio was clean and welcoming. I would recommend these guys to anyone considering a higher end tattoo. read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Professional artists, beautiful work, extremely clean shop. I highly recommend this shop. You will not be disappointed.

Pete has been my artist for several years. I was so excited when he and his wife Melissa opened their own gallery and shop. The downstairs gallery space is really airy and bright. I look forward to getting tattooed to see the ever changing artists' work. The second floor, where the shop is, has the same amazing natural light. Pete's work speaks for itself. I get stopped almost daily with either compliments or inquiries about my tattoos. However long you have to wait for an appointment, I highly suggest sticking it out. It's worth it. You're putting something permanent on your body. Do it right the first time. read more

I've been wanting to get this watercolor seal painting as a tattoo for quite some time but nobody in Los Angeles comes close to doing anything that resembles true watercolor. Then one day I got so incredibly lucky to discover Pete was coming to LA as a guest tattoo artist. After inquiring about his schedule I was told he was booked. Such a sad day for me. So I begged and pleaded if anything opened up to please call me. It must have been meant to be because Pete did contact me and I finally got the tattoo that I've wanted for so long. It's perfect and just beautiful. I've had so many compliments. People can't help but stare at it trying to envision that it's actually a tattoo because it truly looks like a watercolor painting. Pete is brilliant with his colors, shades, hues, and blending of colors. I'm now trying to figure out what I want him to do next when he comes back to LA....probably some flowers! Thank you Pete for your artistry. It's all just so perfect. read more

Central Tattoo Studio - Sea lion watercolor by Pete...the master! - Tattoo Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pete is an incredibly talented tattoo artist! He has done two of my tattoos and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out! He is polite, professional and is completely dedicated to creating the vision you have for your tattoo. Getting tattooed by Pete is always a wonderful experience! read more

Pete is amazing and I can't recommend him highly enough. I have been working with Pete for about a year now on a piece on my side. I came in without 1. having ever been tattooed before and 2. only having a vague idea of what I wanted. Pete listened, offered suggestions, and drew on me with sharpie until we found a concept that I was pleased with. From there I have gone to each session and given him license to do whatever he thought best. I have not been disappointed leaving the artwork in his talented hands...actually that is an understatement. I've been delighted after each session to check out the newest addition to the piece. Pretty shortly into the first session, I had a bit of a freak out. Pete was great about pulling back, giving me water, space, whatever I needed until I calmed down. It made all the difference for me coming back for another session. I have received so many compliments on my tattoo and I'm incredibly pleased with the way it is turning out. It is exactly what I didn't know I wanted when I went in there the first day. read more

Great parlor, great artists, great environment. Loved every moment I was there! Shout out to Murt for making my ideas into a great art piece. The staff is very professional and take what you want to the next level!!! You will not be disappointed! Can't wait to come back for my next one! read more

Pete is an amazing tattoo artist. I found him on Instagram and immediately knew I wanted him to create a tattoo for me. I visited Pete in April of 2015. We did a four hour session. He is very kind and easy to talk to, and of course my tattoo is gorgeous! I can't wait to save up to book another session with him. read more

I haven't been to central studio, however, Pete Zebley has started working on a sleeve piece with lots of wildlife, mountain landscapes, and plant life while he was at another studio. Pete has a great vision for his work and I'm blown away by everything that he does adding to my tattoo. Knowing how neat and put together Pete is during my sessions, I'm sure that his new studio is spectacular! read more

So I'm pretexting this with I never even got a tattoo here. However, I walked in because I knew exactly what I wanted, heard amazing things about the studio, and it was near my house. Cody and another woman in the studio (didn't get name) talked to me at length about what I wanted. This artist had a fairly long wait and I was set on getting it done that day because it was a simple tattoo. They were both so well-informed about tattoos, different styles, what to know before hand, body areas which are more prone to change design over time, etc. And this discussion was after they knew I wasn't willing to wait 4 weeks and not a potential customer. Clean space, art on the walls, looked more like an advertising firm than a tattoo parlor, which I appreciated. Highly knowledgeable, helpful staff. Wish I had had the time to wait for an artist here to tattoo me! read more

Wow. This place is wonderful...the artists are all so talented and you'd be lucky to get an appointment with any of them. Cody did my memorial tattoo coverup and I am over the moon in love with it. I am so proud to show off my new ink and I am so happy I found this studio. read more