Ace Custom Tattoo Moves to Belmont Avenue After Three Decades in Plaza Midwood

After three decades in Plaza Midwood, one of Charlotte’s longest-operating tattoo shops has moved into the abutting Belmont neighborhood, with a grand opening celebration scheduled for next month, the business announced Tuesday.   

Ace Custom Tattoo, an artist-led studio owned by Rodney Raines, will host an open-house celebration at its new home in the historic Owenby Station building on Belmont Avenue, on April 12. The team began offering tattoos out of the space in February. 

In a release on Tuesday, Raines said the newly restored space will allow him to grow his team of artists and curate a gallery for them to sell their art on a larger scale.  

“Being able to design the shop inside this building has been really special,” Raines said. “Bringing it back to life and filling it with art has been meaningful. Ace has always been about community and we hope this is an even more welcoming space where people can walk in, shop, hang out, and get tattooed.”

Originally founded in 1996, Raines joined Ace Custom Tattoo in 1999 and worked under original owner Nick Hughes for four years before purchasing the business in 2003. 

The shop was an early presence in Plaza Midwood, operating on Thomas Avenue before businesses like Boris & Natasha (1999) and Dish (2002) opened, helping turn the area into a hangout.  

The shop will now be located at 875 Belmont Ave., B, just a block’s walk from Super Abari Game Bar, Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Bloom & Bottle, and Ace No. 3. 

Raines said he would like to encourage more walk-in appointments in the new space, as that has become a more common behavior for clientele across the tattoo industry in recent years. 

Ace’s current artist roster includes Chase Spivey and Andrew Black, both of whom have been with the shop since 2015; Conan McParland, who joined in 2019; and well-known muralist Matt Hooker, who recently began tattooing clients after having apprenticed under Raines since 2023. 

Joey Vernon, former owner of Fu’s Custom Tattoo, will join the team in early April after he announced last week he would officially be shutting the doors at Fu’s after 25 years. 

The opening celebration on April 12, scheduled from noon-7 p.m.. will be an open-house-style event, where guests can meet the artists, browse original artwork and pick out a flash tattoo to get done during the party. Artists will also have original artwork available for purchase, including Raines’ recently released art book, which he will be selling and signing copies of. 

Carlos from Carlito’s Dogs will serve hot dogs and quesadillas at the event, while photographer Jeff Howlett will create traditional tintype portraits, according to Tuesday’s release. 

For more information on the new location and the grand opening party, follow Ace Custom Tattoo on Instagram.