Black female-owned and operating since 2015, Gold Stripe Tattoo at 2820 University Ave Suite 2 runs an appointment-only custom tattoo and piercing studio in North Park's 92104 ZIP code. Every artist on staff holds San Diego County health department certification, and clients exploring different ink styles—such as Japanese traditional or geometric blackwork—can also consult the artists at Aces High Tattoo on University Ave. The shop covers the full range of custom work from fine-line script and portraiture to large-scale color realism, with each piece designed through a required pre-session consultation. Walk-in availability is not offered, ensuring each appointment receives dedicated chair time without overlap, and clients scheduling full-day sessions often pair their visit with a fresh cut at Explicit Barbershop on N Park Way. The studio's most demanding commissions are multi-session full-sleeve and full-back pieces requiring sequential sittings of custom color realism or neo-traditional illustration.