A Philadelphia tattoo artist and collector is inking a new chapter.
Troy Timpel is bringing Philly Curio, a one-of-a-kind bar and restaurant, to Fishtown. Timpel, an artist for more than three decades, founded Villain Arts and transformed a single tattoo convention in Philadelphia into one of the country’s largest tattoo festivals, now hosting 30 shows across the United States.
“It’s named after a Victorian curio cabinet. It’ll be full of a rather large osteology collection that I personally own, which is very rare skulls, and interesting objects [taxidermy medical anomaly animals] from all over the world—kind of like a museum bar. I think it’ll go well with the artistic nature of Fishtown,” Timpel told Whatnow Philadelphia.
Philly Curio will also feature a hand-painted floor mural featuring animals like dragons and tigers, created by Timpel.
“The painting will be a representation of neo-traditional tattoo iconography,” he said.
Timpel described the menu, which is still in development, as sexy, smoky with a spooky twist, featuring a Cajun-inspired vibe with exotic proteins.
“I want people to come in and be surprised at the offerings of the menu and drinks—things that are pushing an edge, things that fit the ambiance, which is a weird, fun experience of a place,” he said.
Timpel looks forward to bringing a new spot to Fishtown.
“It’s been a journey. I’m excited just seeing it all come together, seeing the collection, to see people enjoy the objects I’ve collected over the years. I’m sure as things grow, it’ll become more layered, and I’ll be moving pieces in and out,” he said.
Philly Curio plans to softly open in October. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram for the latest updates.
