Nestled in the heart of Echo Park, El Clasico Tattoo shop isn’t just a business but a community hub where art, culture, and personal stories come together.
Walking through its doors, one is greeted by more than just the buzz of tattoo machines; inside is a space where everyone belongs, where every piece of ink carries a story of resilience, family, and culture. Rooted deeply in the local culture, El Clasico Tattoo has become a place where people gather, honor their heritage, and turn personal milestones into living art.
El Clasico Tattoo opened its doors in 2008, a time when it joined other Latine-owned businesses on Sunset Boulevard. El Clasico Tattoo is one of the only original businesses still standing in the heavily gentrified area of Echo Park.
Sal Preciado – known locally as “Big Sal”– uncovers the business’s history, meaning and cultural significance to the local community.
Preciado was born and raised in East Los Angeles, a community in Los Angeles where 95.5% of its residents are Hispanic, according to the 2020 Census. It’s a neighborhood that serves as a cornerstone of Chicano identity, according to PBS. In East L.A. murals, street corners, and businesses tell a story of struggle, resilience and pride through their art.
From an early age, Preciado was immersed in the world of tattoo art. He recalls a pivotal moment at nine years old, hanging out at his good friend’s house, surrounded by family members. “And I remember the first time, so I was probably like nine years old. This guy was getting his whole back tatted. And was like wow, like, that is amazing,” he said. It was at that moment that Preciado knew he wanted to be a part of that world.
Originally, El Clasico Tattoo was supposed to be located in East Los Angeles, where Preciado is originally from, but he couldn’t find an open location. His vision for El Clasico Tattoo was to serve his community, where people‘s vision for tattoos could come to life. Somewhere, people felt comfortable coming in and speaking in Spanish with someone who looked like them.
“They weren’t going to feel uncomfortable coming in because they didn’t speak English all that well,” said Preciado. “It was really important to do that, because when I was in Hollywood, I would see how people come in and they were almost intimidated to go in and speak to somebody.”
Preciado began his journey at the now-closed Bloodshot Tattoo Shop in Hollywood. He recalls clients walking in with a clear vision of their tattoo but struggling to articulate their ideas. By 2006, Preciado was residing in Echo Park and would walk around the area. Inspired by the rich culture and community, he decided to take a leap and in 2008, he opened El Clasico Tattoo. His opening paved the way for the tattoo shops that would surround the Echo Park community, such as Reservoir Tattoo Studio.
“We‘re neighbors. If you open your door, Echo Park’s right there. Echo Park opens the door. East L.A. is right there, so this is also a classic part of Echo Park. So I was like, El Clasico it is, you know, it’s classic, I’m going to keep it true to the community,” said Preciado.
Growing up in the industry, Sal noticed the lack of Latine-owned tattoo shops, let alone a shop named in Spanish. El Clasico translates to “The Classic,” which speaks to the community and what he represents. “I’m down. I’m down for my people, my community, and I’m down to represent,” he proudly states.
In spite of gentrification, El Clasico Tattoo remains.
The annual art gallery draws in community members, lowriders, and local artists who transform the tattoo shop into a gallery. Known as “Park on the Dance Floor,” where local artists and vendors take up Sunset Boulevard. The annual event serves as a reminder of the Chicano culture that remains in Echo Park. Although a date has not been set for this year’s gallery, keep an eye out for an announcement in the month of August.
“We‘re not taking from the community, I’m giving back to the community. We‘re enriching our community. We‘re letting people see this. Everybody’s invited,” said Preciado. “It’s beautiful that everybody wants to come to our event, but everybody’s invited to see how El Clasico gets down.”
For Preciado, El Clasico Tattoo signifies, “A bunch of rad Chicanos doing rad tattoos.”
Preciado’s commitment to his community has never gone unnoticed; the art shows are free. He emphasizes that the art shows known as “Park on the Dance Floor” are not for-profit events, ensuring the event remains welcoming amidst the challenges of gentrification.
Preciado attempts to inspire the next generation of young Chicanos with a clear message: if he, a kid from East Los Angeles, can achieve his dreams, so can they.