Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Gibson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The majority of my younger years were spent in Kansas City, Kansas, as my dad is in the Army and was stationed and Fort Leavenworth. My mother’s family is from East Tennessee, so I grew up traveling out this way to work and stay on my grandparents’ farm often. I first moved to the Nashville area in 2011 and had a job at a local boot store downtown while I was in school in Murfreesboro. After I ended my day at the boot store, I went to the bar next door to bar back until 2 AM. I would get up the next morning, go to class, and head back to Broadway to start all over again. I was thrown into the tattoo industry by proximity after I made friends with the shop owner next door. I’ve loved art my entire life, so it was super intriguing to me. I snagged a desk job at that shop, which eventually had to close its doors. A couple of months later, I ended up acquiring the space and completely re-vamping and resurrecting it under a new name, Pride and Glory Tattoo Parlor. We became one of the busiest walk-in shops in America until COVID came along. I owned and operated Pride and Glory at our 2nd Avenue location from October 2015 to December 2020, when the Christmas Day bombing happened, completely destroying the shop and its contents. We’re currently working on opening a new location on Rep John Lewis Way downtown, and we’re planning to open in mid-April 2021.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any small business, there are always ups and downs. The tattoo industry is volatile. From getting the business off the ground to staying consistently busy inside an ever-growing city to artist retention, struggles are constant. Nashville is one of the fastest-growing tourist cities in America, and we’ve had to adapt to keep up. This past year has been our hardest yet between the pandemic and the bombing. We were almost forced to close our doors multiple times. On top of those things, my fiancé and I just had our first baby in April of 2020, which added more stress to the situation. He is the best thing that’s ever happened to us, but things become a lot more real when you’re not just living for yourself anymore.
We’ve been impressed with Pride and Glory Tattoo, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Pride and Glory is a premier tattoo parlor in downtown Nashville. We pride ourselves on the fact that we cater to everyone: walk-ins, bachelorette parties, families, seasoned vets, etc. We tattoo every style, appreciate the art, and genuinely just try to make our customers happy while providing a memorable and comfortable tattoo experience.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The trials and hard times you experience will make the good times that much sweeter. When you’re going through it, just remember that better days are always ahead as long as you keep pushing toward your goals. You may not feel like a beacon of positivity all the time, but your perseverance will generate positivity.
Contact Info:
- Email: prideandglorytattoos@gmail.com
- Website: www.prideandglorytattoo.com
- Instagram: @prideandglorytattoos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prideandglorytattoos/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pride-and-glory-nashville
