Tattoo Shop Reviews Upscale tattoo shop opens in Jacksonville

By Will Maetzold/KTVL.com

JACKSONVILLE, Ore. — Sweetwater Collective is bringing a tattoo buzz to Jacksonville for the first time. The shop is holding its soft opening this week and taking sign-ups for appointments and consultations.

“The majority of clients come in from out of town,” co-owner Joe Moxley said. “We wanted a place (where) they can stay at a nice bed and breakfast, travel, go to a nice winery (and) walk downtown. When we decided to open up a shop, Jacksonville was the place to be.”

Moxley and Johnny Smith had been talking about opening up a tattoo shop for a few years, but just moved into their new building three months ago.

Smith has been an artist for about 20 years and traveled to tattoo shows across the country. He will join two others as artists at the shop.

“I’m from New Orleans area,” Smith said. “(It’s) the deep south. I was definitely trying to get that New Orleans, Victorian kind of vibe. Between that and my trips to France, I just tried to pull that all into one.”

There’s also an art gallery right inside the main entrance.

“I think that’s a little bit different,” Moxley said. “You can literally just come in and look at the art. You don’t have to book an appointment or anything. You can just come down here and see what’s going on. I think that’s going to be fun for Jacksonville.”

The experience, along with tattoos, will be offered for the first time in Jacksonville.

Moxley and Smith are still putting the finishing touches on the new shop. They expect to hold an official grand opening before the end of the month.

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