Business Highlight Series Metropolitan Ink and Beauty Bar: Gracie Petrossian

rosajaviersales
Mar 15
5 min read

I’m closing this mini-series with Grace Petrossian, the one who first inspired her family to look toward Easton as the place to build their business together.

Grace’s studio is the first you see when you walk in, something that feels both symbolic and fitting. In many ways, it reflects her role in opening the door for her family and helping shape what Metropolitan Ink & Beauty Bar has become in the Lehigh Valley.

Let’s take a moment to get to know Grace and her story.

Business Information:

Name: Metropolitan Ink and Beauty Bar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattoobygracie/

Address: 28 N 3rd St, Easton, PA 18042

Phone: (610) 297-5120

Website: https://www.metropolitaninkandbeautybar.com/

Getting to know Gracie

Rosa: Hi! How are you?

Gracie Petrossian: Good, how are you?

Rosa: I’m doing well! Can you tell us who you are and what do you do?

Grace: I’m Gracie and I am the tattoo artist here at Metropolitan.

Finding Her Path & First Tattoo

Rosa: Awesome! Can you tell us when you find out that tattooing wasn’t just an art, but a path for you?

Grace: Well, I started getting tattooed at eighteen. And I really loved it. Even when my parents didn’t really love it. But now they both have a lot of tattoos, so they can’t say anything anymore. I didn’t think it was something that I could do. I don’t know why, it just didn’t seem like a possibility. And then I tried college, I dropped out of college. I didn’t like school. And eventually, I kind of just settled on, “why can’t I do it? And learn it?”

Rosa: Perfect. That’s awesome! So, what was your first tattoo that you ever drew?

Grace: I don’t know what the first tattoo I ever drew was. The first tattoo that I ever did was on this guy in Miami. This Italian guy who had just moved to the US a couple months before, and he drove to the Keys with his friends and got arrested for having something illegal on him, and got the monopoly get out of jail free card tattooed on his ankle. So, that was kind of terrifying and hilarious at the same time.

The Process Behind the Ink

Rosa: Tattoos are permanent, how do you guide someone choosing something so serious on their body?

Grace: A lot of people walk in here and they know what they want. Some people just like it for the art of it, and they’ll come in and they’ll pick something off the wall because they like that somebody put the time into making it. And other people come in and they tell me, you know, what they want and what it means to them. We’ll work to get to something they really love. And then you have some people where you need to talk them out of something because they might not be the best idea. But, we always land on something that is the right call.

Rosa: Awesome. What conversations matter the most before the needle touches the skin?

Grace: Oh, man! Anything from, you know, like your medical history, to make sure you know, your tattoo heals as great it possibly can, to what do you think you’re gonna love in fifty years?

Tattooing in Easton

Rosa: So, what does tattooing in the heart of Easton mean to you here in Downtown?

Grace: I mean, it’s a really, really awesome little city here. We meet some really, really cool people. Just being able to throw the sign out there on a warm day and have people walk in and want to work with you is one of the coolest things about working in the middle of Easton.

Rosa: Cool! So, you love the vibe?

Grace: Oh, yeah! For sure.

Style & Creative Energy

Rosa: How would you describe your tattooing style?

Grace: Since we’re new here, I’ll still take on pretty much anything. I’ll pretty much work with anybody and anything they want, but if it’s up to me, I would work American traditional all day, every day. Like, the bold colors, I like the bold lines! It’s just something I’ve always liked to do and get.

Rosa: What kind of pieces light you up immediately?

Grace: I mean, anything with bright colors. Anything where someone’s like, “I want bright colors” – I am all in. Let’s do it! I’m like, “Let’s get you in tomorrow!”

Building With Family

Rosa: What’s it like building something alongside your mom and your sister?

Grace: It’s really cool. I worked with my dad, doing fabrication and stuff for years, and it was really cool to get to spend every day with him. And now it’s pretty cool to do the same thing with them now.

Rosa: What does working with your family push you? Does it push you creatively?

Grace: It definitely does! I don’t know if it's so much creatively… because I mean, I’ve always liked to draw and do all this stuff, but definitely, to succeed. Because, I mean, if one of us doesn’t want to succeed, then it takes down everybody else with you. So it really pushes you to do your best every day.

The Experience Gracie Creates

Rosa: What do you hope someone feels when they leave with your work on their body?

Grace: Oh man, I hope that they really, besides the fact of loving the tattoo, I really hope that they had a great time here. They feel like they made a friend and they were just comfortable because there’s a lot of shops you go to where you can’t feel comfortable.

Rosa: What makes you different from the other shops?

Grace: Well, instead of being in an open room, you’re in a private studio and, you know, you’re not just a tattoo, you’re a person. And we’re ninety percent of the time best friends by the end of it. Which is pretty cool!

Where to Find Gracie

Rosa: That’s awesome, you tell us where people can find you?

Grace: People can find me on Instagram @tattoobygracie. Look for the little logo with the baby giving the middle finger. You can’t miss it!

Rosa: Awesome! Thank you, Gracie!

Supporting Local Means Supporting Community

Supporting local businesses like Metropolitan Ink & Beauty Bar means supporting real people, creativity, and a women-owned, family-run space rooted in Easton. Built on trust, artistry, and intention, it’s a place where self-expression, confidence, and connection come together naturally.

As I close this three-part mini series, I’m highlighting the women behind the work — Liv, Helena, and Grace. We end with Gracie, whose bold, colorful approach to tattooing and welcoming energy create an experience where clients feel comfortable, seen, and excited to carry her work with them.