Arlington tattoo shop collects food donations through annual haunted house

An annual haunted house at The Chosen One Ink brought 4,279 visitors to the Arlington tattoo and piercing shop in October, generating three truck bed loads of canned food donations for neighboring Mission Arlington. Admission to the attraction required a canned food donation, combining Halloween entertainment with support for the community.

The shop turned its back area into a haunted attraction from Oct. 3 through Oct. 31. Children, teenagers, parents and other adults arrived in costumes to make their way through the scares. Screams, chainsaw noises and the sound of tables being smashed accompanied the event at the studio, which has been operating for 16 years.

Tattoo artist Karina Brundrett oversees the planning and execution of the haunted house. She has worked at the shop for a decade alongside her husband, owner Matt Brundrett. For her, the event offers families a chance to enjoy the kind of Halloween fun she remembers from childhood while contributing to a cause with personal significance.

Karina said her own experience receiving assistance as a child informs her commitment to collecting donations. She remembers how much those boxes of help mattered to her family and wants to support others in the community. “It’s for fun and for a good cause,” she said of the haunted house.

With October over, the shop has returned to its usual atmosphere of 1980s rock music, neon lighting and bright cherry red and teal walls. The owners display memorabilia throughout the space, including signed Nirvana posters, platinum Death Row records and a bumper from Matt’s old truck. Matt describes the business as nostalgic, with its attention centered on art and customer satisfaction.

Matt grew up around tattoo shops and valued their sense of community, along with listening to Pantera. He said conversations with clients and a welcoming, familial atmosphere are important parts of his work. A lifelong Arlington resident, he sees the business as rooted in the place he calls home.

After owning The Chosen One Ink for 16 years, Matt hopes it will remain a fixture for Arlington residents as it approaches two decades in business. He moved the studio to its current Abram Street address in 2023, making it the first tattoo studio to open in Downtown Arlington. Becoming part of the downtown community was a priority for him.

The haunted house attracted newcomers as well as returning customers familiar with Matt and his work. He said the staff’s experience helps clients find tattoos or piercings that suit them. “Everyone’s welcome, and everyone has a good time here,” he said.