By Avery Hill and Emarie Tucker
Wingate Triangle contributing writers
His shop probably goes unnoticed by most Wingate University students as they drive or walk down Wilson Street and take a left on Main, but inside the small office space that occupies Jay’s Custom Tattooing at 110 N. Main St. lives a business that Jay Moncrief has built into a thriving fixture in the town of Wingate since its opening in 2018.
Moncrief, 55, is originally from Elizabeth, N.J., where he began his career as a tattoo artist at age 20. He moved to North Carolina in 2013 and opened up his shop in Wingate five years later.
In the early days of operating the shop, to make ends meet, Moncrief worked for Dunbar Armored and did tattooing on the side. He said it was a challenge to get his business off the ground in the early days, but growth from both the town of Wingate and the university have helped him build what he now calls an established customer base.
“Each year is a little different,” Moncrief said. “A few years ago it was crazy—just a lot of students coming in, the same ones coming in, you know, over and over and over.”
Now he has many customers, from Wingate and surrounding towns like Marshville and Monroe. His talent has gained him a loyal following and the trust of those who walk through the doors of Jay’s Custom Tattooing.
“Jay is so sweet and does such amazing work,” customer Jenna Fowler wrote in a Google review. “Got my first tattoo here and was pretty nervous, but it didn’t hurt as much as I expected and Jay walked me through the process.”
No two days in the shop are alike—some days business is nonstop and others it’s sporadic—but this year has been the busiest since his arrival. Moncrief said he chose this career because he has a passion for it.
“I’ve always been an artist since I was a kid,” he said. “I always had a crayon or a marker in my hand and, when I started seeing tattoos as a teenager, I just thought they were the coolest thing.”
When he first moved to the area, he wanted to open his business in Charlotte, but the zoning laws were complicated, rent was high and there were already plenty of shops to compete with. He said if he were to go to Charlotte, he would most likely have work to for someone else.
Although he would not have to worry about rent and upkeep for an office space, he also would not have his own place. Moncrief said he enjoys his independence and being the only one in the town—and on campus—who does tattooing.
While he appreciates all business, Moncrief hopes in the future to acquire more clients who want larger tattoo pieces that will give him a chance to expand his art.
Pricing for Moncrief’s tattoo work starts at $40 but will increase to $50 in January. His office is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. You can call his office at 704-245-3253 for more information and visit his Instagram page (@jays_custom_tattooing_fineart) to see samples of his work.
Wingate Triangle 