Walk down Olive Street in St. Louis, and you might just miss it. But for those in the know, Black Pearl Tattoo Gallery is hard to overlook. Since ’94, this family-run shop has been leaving its mark on the city – literally.
It all started with Roland Page Sr., a local tattoo legend. When lupus forced him to hang up his machine, his sons stepped in. Roland Jr. and Jiro grew up watching their dad work, soaking in the craft like ink into skin.
“Dad always said, ‘Watch and learn,'” Roland Jr. told me over the buzz of tattoo machines. “So that’s what we did.”
These days, Roland Jr. (or Yung Ro, as his rap fans know him) handles the bold, intricate designs. His brother Jiro? He’s the go-to for piercings and detailed work. Together, they’ve turned Black Pearl into a one-stop shop for body art.
Their rep has spread beyond St. Louis. Pro athletes, Netflix stars – they’ve all sat in Black Pearl’s chairs. But don’t think it’s gone to their heads. Local butcher Mark Stevens has been coming here for years. “It’s like family,” he said, showing off his latest ink. “They remember your kids’ names, you know?”
But there’s more to Roland Jr.’s story. Before he was inking full-time, he was spitting rhymes. As Yung Ro, he climbed the Billboard charts, an indie rapper with serious chops. ‘Music was my first love,’ he admitted, leaning against the counter. ‘But life has a way of changing your tune.’ When family challenges hit, Roland Jr. faced a choice. In the end, he stepped up to fill his dad’s shoes, trading one art form for another. ‘It wasn’t easy,’ he said, ‘but this place, it’s more than a shop. It’s our legacy.
Speaking of family, mama Tracey keeps the ship running smooth. “Someone’s gotta keep these boys in line,” she laughed, winking at her sons.
Black Pearl’s not just about tattoos, though. The Pages have made a name for themselves with charity work around town. Food drives, youth programs – you name it, they’re probably involved.
As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows on Washington Ave, Roland Jr. reflected on the journey. “From dad’s little shop to this? Man, it’s wild. But we’re just getting started.”
With nearly 30 years under their belts, Black Pearl has become as much a part of St. Louis as toasted ravioli or the Cards. In a city that knows a thing or two about landmarks, this little tattoo shop has built one of its own – stroke by stroke, year by year.
Want to see their work? Check out @yung_ro and @jiropage on Instagram or the business page @pearlgallerystl. Or better yet, stop by the shop. Just don’t be surprised if you leave with some new ink. After all, as their slogan goes, they’re all about “Penetrating SKIN DEEP!”
