Salem, Massachusetts holds a very special place in the heart of tattoo artist Brent Simon. As the site of his engagement, his honeymoon and a source of great inspiration, Simon said the location is “truly magical.” When the time came for Simon to start his own shop, the goal was clear from day one – bring a little taste of Salem back home to northeastern Pennsylvania.
Brent, a Bloomsburg native, has been tattooing for five years and has honed his artistry in many renowned shops across the region. His signature style, filled with clean lines and sharp imagery, transcends any preconceived notions, despite his penchant for the occult and otherworldly.
“My biggest inspirations in my art are nature, the mystic and science,” Simon said. “I would definitely say that I try to put those influences into every piece of art I do.”
Simon’s style, often leaning toward neotraditionalism, has constantly evolved as his artistry grows.
“I would definitely say I’ve even been shifting into a more new-school, realism type of style lately,” he said. “Art is constantly evolving, always changing.”
Mystic Crystal, tucked along Route 93 in Nescopeck, has been open since Aug. 1. Although it’s a new venture, Simon’s shop is in full swing.
Mystic Crystal functions as more than just a tattoo parlor – in the back of the store, there is a full retail shop specializing in the occult, crystals, spiritual needs and even some clothing in their “Luna’s Closet” portion. As the brainchild between Brent and his wife, Megan, they decided to create a shop uniquely their own – representing the blending of their two personalities to match both of their visions.
“When we first set up shop, it’s safe to say, there’s nothing like this anywhere else around here,” said Megan Simon, Brent’s wife and co-owner of Mystic Crystal. “Having lived in Florida and Chicago for a number of years, when I came out here I fell in love with the region and the shop just fell into place.”
The shop is expanding rapidly – adding a full spiritual room for reiki sessions and past life readings from one of the region’s certified reiki masters, as well as taking on two apprentices, Megan and Grayson Jackson, 22, of Berwick.
“The way this shop has come together has been incredible,” Megan said. “We have had incredible support from the community – the tattoo community as well as the spiritual community – we are so grateful.”
Brent is offering an exclusive discount to readers of Weekender – anyone who mentions this article while booking a tattoo or making a purchase at the shop can get 10 percent off of standard price.
“It’s been a fantastic few months,” Megan said. “We have so much more in store.”