History
Family owned and operated since 1969. We are Westechester's oldest tattoo parlor, established less than decade after the tattoo ban of 1961, and operated legally just outside city limits in Mt. Vernon, NY. Original owner Big Joe Kaplan fought a number of legal battles to keep the studio open in the wake of the ban, and in turn paved the way for many local artists to practice their trade. He collaborated with local health departments to help create new rules and regulations for tattooing in NY state and his supply business Kaplan East Coast Supply, established in 1974, provided accessible tools of the trade for artist around the world. His aluminum frame tattoo machine is considered a pivotal step in the development of the tattoo machine and some of his equipment and artwork can be viewed at the the New York Historical Society in their Tattooed New York exhibition.
Specialties
Big Joe and Sons Tattoo has been family owned and operated for over 50 years. Our experienced staff is professionally trained and certified, each specializing in a particular style or form. Not only do we provide a variety of styles, we also work with each of our clients to the utmost in order to help you create your own personal and original custom design. Our artists are available for both appointments and walk-ins. Big Joe's family includes Adam Kaplan (tattooing since 1982), his son Anthony Kaplan, Anthony Mercado, Marcel Blue, Andy Bautista, piercer Sheila Satin, Pito, and Slic. Our piercer has over 15 years of experience and is one of the leading technicians in the industry. Anyone looking for a quick and easy process from qualified professional can rely on us for clean and pleasant experience. In addition, our shop has been featured in several publications including the Journal News, Daily News, New York Times, Cosmopolitan magazine, Tattoo Review, Skin Art, Outlaw Biker, etc. We've had an artist featured on Oxygen Network's 'Best Ink' and in the past have been featured on a number talk shows and other television programs including Geraldo Rivera, Saturday Night Live, and Channel 12 news.