In the neon lit streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, 33-year-old Max Krejckant walked into the aptly named Ink Godz tattoo parlor with a peculiar request: he wanted the iconic Waffle House sign tattooed on his calf. Little did the local tattoo artists know, this request would unearth a scandal that would captivate national headlines, highlighting just how far an individual might go for their love of breakfast food.
Florida man arrested after failing to pay for Waffle House tattoohttps://t.co/bAinrVXTznhttps://t.co/bAinrVXTzn
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) December 12, 2023
Krejckant, a resident of nearby Clearwater, managed to complete the entire tattooing process without raising any suspicion. All seemed well, until it came time to pay the $250 price tag for the fresh ink. Instead of pulling out his debit card, Krejckant allegedly stated he did not have it with him. Despite being given multiple opportunities to resolve the situation, he continued to avoid payment. Complicating matters, authorities reported Krejckant could not provide proof of having the required amount in his bank account and was found to held just six dollars in cash.
The refusal to pay escalated into a legal matter when authorities arrived at the location of the incident. Krejckant was taken under custody on December 2, charged with petit theft. Interestingly, the Smoking Gun, a renowned news outlet, reported on December 4 that Krejckant was said to have been under the influence at the time of the tattoo service.
Neil Marcus, the owner of Ink Godz, stated this was not an isolated incident, sharing that there have been previous instances of customers attempting to leave without paying for their tattoos. However, these occurrences are usually restricted to the busy and often chaotic Spring Break season. Marcus also added an interesting tidbit about Krejckant’s interaction: the choice of gray and black colors for the Waffle House logo was driven by Krejckant’s reluctance to pay an additional $100 for the signature yellow hue.
Aside from the freshly donned ‘Waffle House’ logo, Krejckant sports an array of tattoos, amongst which is an intriguing black and white tribute piece dedicated to the band Insane Clown Posse. After his arrest, Krejckant was released on bond, after posting $150, and has reportedly pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor count of petit theft related to the tattoo incident.
In conclusion, the case of Max Krejckant serves as a vivid testament to the bizarre corners of human conduct. A man’s alleged attempt to skirt payment for his body art has morphed into a nationwide spectacle, igniting discussions about ethics, consumer behavior, and personal responsibility. With a court date looming and a vivid (albeit grayscale) tattoo permanently etched, the question remains: was it all worth it for a homage to Waffle House? The answer, presumably, is yet to be inked in the annals of law and order.
