Aiken ink: First tattoo parlor to open

Bob Pietsch is opening Aiken County's first tattoo parlor.

Carolina Ink Tattooing will open in the next few months on Middleton Drive (Highway 78) in Windsor after final approval comes from the state. And that is expected to come after Windsor Mayor Frank Mizell sends a letter stating everything has been OK'd by the small municipality, which he said he will do any day now.

"We're going to break new ground. We're going to have the first in Aiken County," Mizell said. "We did approve it; we did grant him a business license. I checked with the County and there is nothing to preclude us from doing this.

"Apparently, there is a need for tattoos out there."

Carolina Ink will be Pietsch's first parlor in South Carolina. He previously owned a parlor in Miami.

He began his career at the tender age of 15, after becoming entranced by the sound and sight of tattooing machines in a parlor next door to where he lived as a youngster. He has been doing it ever since and loves it.

"I already have customers lined up," he said. "Let's just put it this way - I had 1,000 business cards made and a quarter of them are already gone."

Carolina Ink will open where D&B ABC Package Store once was. Pietsch said the location is perfect since it was already zoned appropriately to permit a tattoo parlor.

"This will be a small operation," he said. "It will most likely be by appointment only."

Mizell said the vote to grant the business license was unanimous, and added that Pietsch provided all the necessary documentation and was nothing but cooperative.

"He seemed to be a fine fellow," Mizell said. "He was up front with everything and open from the get-go. We are looking forward to him coming."

State law mandates tattoo artists must complete classes on CPR and first aid, bloodborne pathogens and tattoo infection control, which Pietsch said he has done. He also said he will use disposable, single-use instruments, which is also required by law.

Customers must be at least 21 years old or have parental consent if they're at least 18.

"This is like a landmark thing," Pietsch said.

As part of the tattoo licensing process, a legal ad has been running in the Aiken Standard this month. To object to the issuance of the license, written protest must be postmarked no later than March 28. Protest must be mailed to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, ATTN: Division of Health Licensing, 2600 Bull St., Columbia 29201.

For more information, call Pietsch at 295-7268.