It's finally here — after six weeks of searching, it's time to name New Jersey's best tattoo shop!
EDISON -- After six weeks of searching, more than 100 nominations, more than 50,000 votes, and many hours spent at some of the finest ink parlors in the state, it is time to crown a victor.
Drum roll, please.
It's official: Rorschach Gallery in Edison is New Jersey's best tattoo shop!
Rorschach Gallery in Edison, winner of N.J.'s best tattoo shop. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Rorschach Gallery is:
- Owner/artist "Sunday" Brian Mahovetz
- Owner/artist Dan "Doodles" Ward
- Artist Carol "Cricket" Jacky
- Artist Dennis Van Blarcom
- Artist Shawn "Ham" Hannon
- Piercer/tattoo removal specialist Alex Santos
The staff at Rorschach Gallery in Edison, winner of N.J.'s best tattoo shop. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Please know this was an incredibly difficult decision. Our readers, and each shops' followers did well to select five sensational finalists, at which I spent much time over the last week meeting the staff, interviewing the owners, checking out their artwork and observing how they conduct their business.
And each shop impressed me, to the point where I would confidently schedule an appointment with any of them. Everyone made me feel at home, and showcased a great devotion to their craft, and work ethic to improve skills that are already tremendous.
MORE: The full feature on Rorschach Gallery in Edison
But Rorschach Gallery, a 2-year-old shop that resides in a nondescript strip mall just off Route 1 and across from Menlo Park Mall, seemed to possess the whole package, as well as a few features other shops did not feature.
WHY THEY WON
- A huge plus for Rorschach was their ability to provide non-laser tattoo removal -- one of only two shops in New Jersey and a handful around the country to off such a service. According to Santos, the procedure is less painful, less expensive and less time-consuming than traditional laser treatments. A shop that can not only cover, but completely remove a bad tattoo earns an edge.
A tattoo removal in progress at Rorschach Gallery in Edison, winner of N.J.'s best tattoo shop. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) - The brevity and quality of the Rorschach staff's work is wide-ranging and very strong. Ward was the only bonafide new-school inker of the five finalists, while Mahovetz turned in great black-and-gray realism. Jacky's neo-traditional, illustrative pieces were wonderfully smooth, Hannon's bold lines were cool and Van Blarcom's fine-line work was great, too. This seemed like a shop that could actually keep the "we can do it all" promise.
- The parlor's mix of professionalism and comfortability -- a good chair-side manor, you could say -- was both engaging and reassuring for clients. They clearly connect with their customers, as many stop by regularly, just to say hello. During the visit, the staff was focused on their work, but were also happy to chat, joke and share stories. "We're like normal ... well ... sort of like normal people," laughed Van Blarcom.
Owner Brian Mahovetz tattoos at Rorschach Gallery in Edison, winner of N.J.'s best tattoo shop. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) - The shop's design is intriguing and unique. It's two stories, with a lobby and waiting area above, and the stations below. The upper floor was covered wall-to-wall in artwork, mostly done by local artists who the owners allow to hang their pieces on display, free of charge. There's an Xbox video game system on hand for those in search of further entertainment. And for dog-lovers, Van Blarcom's 9-year-old pug Mugsy hangs out upstairs.
- Rorschach is heavily involved with the community and involves itself in many fundraisers and benefits in the area, setting up airbrush tables for kids to get temporary tattoos. It's always nice to give back.
Artist Dennis Van Blarcom with Mugsy at Rorschach Gallery in Edison, winner of N.J.'s best tattoo shop. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Well, that's all, folks. I hope you enjoyed this journey to uncover amazing work from New Jersey artists, whose pieces you may have never seen otherwise.
As I wrote in the first article for this project, ink is forever. And at New Jersey's best tattoo shop, forever seems to be in the right hands.
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook.