Moscow Tattoo Company has been leaving its mark on locals and students for over five years.
The tattoo shop recently moved to a new location on 1404 S Blaine St. near Safeway. This is the shop’s first move since its founding in 2018.
Artist Brookie Sosa found her home at MTC after studying art and playing on the University of Idaho soccer team. Initially entering the shop as a client, Sosa became interested in a tattoo apprenticeship after hearing about it from some of the artists that worked there.
“I sat down with (the owner) and showed him my portfolio, and he decided to take a chance on me,” Sosa said.
The decision to become a full-time artist came after the pandemic pushed Sosa to take a break from her academics.
Working at the tattoo shop helped her decide not to return to UI to finish her studies. Sosa said that decision simply felt right.
Sosa did her first tattoo on herself, with owner and founder Matt Johnson choosing the design. Writing out “confidence” was her first time using the tattoo gun on skin. This has remained a consistent reminder as she has developed as an artist.
Sosa is also familiar with the shop’s work for the community Playing soccer for UI helped her understand how important it is to connect with the town.
“I just fell in love with this town and how supportive everyone can be especially within the past couple of years that I’ve been here,” Sosa said. “Seeing how much this community feeds back to the shop and the shop feeds back to them; it’s honestly just beautiful.”
Ian Ripley, who has worked as an artist for the shop since its founding, has experienced both sides of the importance of giving back to the community.
“The tattoo shop has been a blessing to me and my family,” Ripley said. “My wife ended up passing away from cancer, and we had tons and tons and tons of support from not only the tattoo shop, but the whole rest of the community.”
Johnson is working to make these important connections.
“It’s the most important thing for us,” Johnson said. “We are nothing without our community, where owning a business (is) a want not a need, things can change very rapidly.”
This was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tattoo shop had to change how it operated to ensure both artists and clients were safe. Changing from walk-ins to appointment-only cut business down with the town’s college demographic.
However, this hasn’t stopped the flow of customers coming through the doors as the business has finished its relocations and remodeling.
“I have noticed we are definitely reaching a little bit of a more of a different demographic being over here,” Johnson said. “Because I’m noticing a lot more locals walking in, as opposed to the constant flow of college students.”
Johnson is grateful to have the community support regardless of where they are located.
“Moscow is a very special place,” Johnson said. “We all got to work together to make it grow in the right direction.”