The Success of Sawdons’ Sunken Ship

Editor’s note: Originally published April 18, 2019. Republished June 23, 2022

Header photo courtesy of Angela Perkins and Flash City Photo.

Matt and Heidi Sawdon were high school sweethearts; they dropped out of school and married young at 17 and 18. They were ready to work in the real world, and as time has proven, their hard work has rewarded them.

Matt and Heidi are the owners of Sunken Ship Tattoo and Hot Rod Heidi’s Vintage Closet on Hewitt.

The outside of Hot Rod Heidi’s // Christa Porter

Before Sunken Ship, Matt took a tattoo apprenticeship under his brother while working a day job in construction. Shortly after buying their first home, he decided to quit construction and start tattooing full-time.

Not even six months into his new career, Matt could tell that they were going to have to open their own shop if they were going to keep their house.

So they took out a small equity loan and in 2007, Sunken Ship was born.

The exterior of Sunken Ship Tattoo // Christa Porter

The business has grown steadily over the years. They started with two other tattoo artists in a 600 sq. ft. space on the east end of Everett Ave by the old Lighthouse Saloon. Then they moved to a 1,000 sq. ft. space on Broadway, and, shortly after, tore down a wall there to triple their room and add Heidi’s vintage shop.

Now they have a prime 4,000 sq. ft. space on Hewitt Ave with six resident artists, a piercer, guest artists, and of course, the boutique.

Some vintage finds at Hot Rod Heidi’s // Christa Porter

In a seaport full of tattoo shops, Sunken Ship is arguably the best place to get tatted in town. All of the artists have been tattooing for at least ten years and there is no substitute for experience when it comes to quality tattoos. Most of the artists at Sunken Ship are from elsewhere in the country: Preston is from Georgia, Mike is from Orange County, Jay is from New Mexico, Ben is from Maine.

I asked Ben why this is, and his answer was simple: this is where the demand is, this is where the work can be found.

I asked the Sawdons what their favorite thing is about owning a tattoo shop, and aside from getting to change the music whenever they want, they said it’s the sense of family and community within.

They take care of their staff.

This vintage pool table is just one of the retro-cool things about the tattoo and vintage shops // Christa Porter

Heidi jokes they did everything backward: dropped out of school, married young, had kids, bought a house, and then established a business.

I say, there is nothing backward about their success—good luck follows hard work.

The counter at Sunken Ship // Christa Porter

Want to get work done at Sunken Ship? They have a shop charge of $150 an hour with a $50 minimum. Giving them a call on the phone is still the best way to get in.