The results are in, and this is the readers’ pick for best tattoo shop in Centre County

CDT readers named Rock & Ruthless as the best tattoo shop in Centre County, and the vote wasn’t close.

The downtown Philipsburg tattoo parlor received 1,086 votes out of the 1,616 cast in our poll (67%) to finish first out of nine choices. Paper Moon Tattoo Co. in State College finished second with 195 votes (12%) and Thunder Tattoo Studio in Philipsburg finished third with 155 votes (10%).

Owner/artist Tyler Walstrom, who said he was “super stoked” by the results, opened Rock & Ruthless Tattoo Parlor in 2012. He left his hometown of Philipsburg to pursue tattooing before he decided to come back to start a local shop to serve his supporters and followers, he wrote in an email Friday. More than 5,000 tattoos have been done at the 200 N. Second St. shop since it’s been in business. Walstrom anticipates his business will continue to grow, as he is renovating a larger downtown site for a future location while running the existing shop.

His team comprises Sean Bourn, Annalise McMahon, Cea Kay and other friends who help with tasks around the shop.

Walstrom credited the store’s success in the poll to “the whole team/friends here and the massive loyal following the shop has accumulated over the last decade.” He said it was incredible to see how many people care about what he and his team do on a regular basis at the shop.

“A lot of time, effort and sacrifice goes into tattooing. Working weekends, odd hours, long days and even sometimes spending 70+ hours a week in the shop,” Walstrom said. “Oftentimes it seems like all that goes overlooked or underappreciated in this line of work. Winning this, and seeing the overwhelming support of the customers, family and friends, has certainly made all the dedication worth it.”

This poll was not scientific and just for fun. It was open Aug. 7-10 at CentreDaily.com and only included shops and not individual artists.

Readers also nominated Austin Grove Tattoo and Spiraling Upward Tattoo & Art Gallery featuring Brows ‘n Blings by Stephanie, both in Bellefonte.

This story was originally published August 11, 2023 at 6:30 AM.