JB Charleston Exchange Gets Inked: American Tattoo Society Opens in Mall

The long-awaited American Tattoo Society is open at the Joint Base Charleston Exchange mall.

628^th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Adeleke Ekundayo and 628^th Mission Support Group Chief Master Sgt. Jessica Baldwin joined American Tattoo Society owner Ryan Harrell, JB Charleston Exchange General Manager Helen Radenheimer and JB Charleston Exchange Services Business Manager Jacqueline Scott in cutting the ribbon on the shop Aug. 16.

Harrell noted that the grand opening took place a year to the date after he and his team first received their base passes allowing them access to the installation.

Ekundayo thanked Harrell and the American Tattoo Society for the service they were bringing to the community.

“Little things like this is what motivates us,” Ekundayo said. “People have connections to their past, their future, the things that mean something to them, and the art of tattooing is how they memorialize those.”

Shoppers were treated to complimentary temporary tattoos, T-shirts, sunglasses and more.

“It was great seeing this grand opening come to fruition after all the time and coordination that took place between the Exchange, the base and American Tattoo Society,” Scott said. “The shop had nearly $3,000 in sales the first day, and we’ve already had some great guest artists visit since it’s been opened.”

The new studio provides quality tattoo artistry in a safe and professional environment for service members and supports the longstanding history of tattoos in the military. The JB Charleston location is the 10^th tattoo shop the Exchange has opened.

From left: Exchange Services Business Manager Jacqueline Scott, 628th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Adeleke Ekundayo, American Tattoo Society owner Ryan Harrell, JB Charleston Exchange General Manager Helen Radenheimer and 628th Mission Support Group Chief Master Sgt. Jessica Baldwin.