Stigma Tattoo Bar inks up downtown

While the downtown lounge does have dancers on the weekends, Stigma Tattoo Bar prides itself on being eclectic.

Walk a little too quickly and you might the bar, located at 17 S. Orange Ave. Once you ascend the 22 steps up to the door above Ichiban, you'll notice the edgy, dungeon-esque design.

Stigma opened in October, boasting a unique combination of activities for the discerning bargoer: tattoo artistry, body piercings, massages, a varied wine and beer selection, and pole and cage dancing.

Don't be fooled by that last distinction: Those same weekend dancers offer $20 pole-fitness classes and group package options through Polegasmic. The pole floor is also open to all guests on Thursdays through Saturdays after 9 p.m.

For those 21 and older, the bar in the back offers a variety of wine and beer selections, imported and domestic, for fairly reasonable prices. A large mug of Yuengling is only $3.50, and cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon go for $2 each.

The bar is still especially popular with college students for its Wednesday beer pong tournaments. Stigma does not offer liquor — it is still waiting on its liquor license.

Tattoos and piercings are available both to walk-ins and by appointment, as there is almost always one artist on hand.

Stigma offers wholesale tattoo supplies, as well; one of two places in Orlando to do so.

Stigma's resident tattoo artist is Danny W, also known as "Welsy." Originally from the UK, Welsy moved to the United States with his family in 2003 and served as the tattoo artist for Stigma at its old location in Winter Garden.

Welsy also designs a unique line of children's tattoo-inspired clothing called FunkyPunkins, in honor of the youngest of his three sons.

FunkyPunkins can be found online at Funkypunkins.com or pre-ordered at Stigma, where Welsy is the owner and operator.

"He's a great boss; I couldn't ask for anything else," said Brandon Hancock, a piercer and shop manager at Stigma.

Hancock, who began working at there just a few weeks after it opened, said Welsy's skill at handling both management and tattoos as an "inspiration."

So what's the craziest tattoo to ever come through the shop?

A giant archangel for the manager of a bar a cross the street.

The manager decided on a design that extended from his armpit all the way down to his upper thigh— an unusual choice for a first-time tattoo.

"[It] ended up taking over 50 hours," Hancock said.

"That's pretty crazy to me."