Tattoo Factory Inc
- Nearest Transit:
Wilson (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
51 reviews
Neighborhood: Lakeview
"I wanted a custom tattoo and let me tell you it was a long and lengthy process trying to find someone who was a real artist. I had a vision,…" read more »
39 Reviews for Tattoo Factory Inc
Hey, I'm the guy with the big fish on his leg!
I gotta say, I couldn't be more happy with my experience at the Tattoo Factory! Initially, I was reluctant to go to the Tattoo Factory as the name turned me off, making me think of conveyor belts and identical trampstamps, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I brought in my own reference material and the artist took it and improved it and was ready to put it on me in about twenty minutes. He had a gentile hand and despite the fact that this is by far my biggest and most involved tattoo, it went on with no pain at all in about an hour and a half. The line work is delicate and precise and the grays are light and perfect and beautiful. It healed in no time with no scabbing or pealing at all. I want to get more tattoos just so I can go back to the uptown Tattoo Factory!
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Tattoo Factory is the most unprofessional tattoo parlor I have ever been to. First off, they break the law. A few people I knew in high school got tattooed there under the table before they were 18. They don't even card people either. Secondly, they really don't give a sh*t who they tattoo, they just want to make a buck when they're having a slow night. When I was there with a family member who was getting tattooed, people who were drunk came in and got tattooed. Also, while one of the artists was doing a larger piece, he took a cigarette break and didn't even wash his hands when he came back. Even I know that isn't professional or safe!
I'm sure there are good, quality artists at Tattoo Factory. But if that is how the run their business, I will never go there for a tattoo or piercing and I wouldn't recommend anyone else do so either.
I love Uptown Tattoo!
Clean, cute, and reliable.
You'll hate this story, but I was hammered one night and decided to get this tattoo I'd been musing over for a year. Grabbed the comic it was from, went to Uptown, and got it done.
Color fill in. No pain. No itching. No real scabbing.
Pay with credit. Tip not required. Still cute, still nice. FREE retouch on the color because it was a solid blue.
Best $100 I ever spent and it looks just like my reference!
As with any business: go in saying what you want, be clear and direct, STATE YOUR PRICE RANGE (always up it on first offer then haggle to what you want) and have a great experience.
My girlfriends said I would regret it. And I don't. The tatt artists are great. My co-worker who already had 4 tattoos was tired of his tattoo shop on Belmont and I told him to go here since I LOVED mine and the service.
The artist did this big fish on his leg. Shading, lining, the works. $200. No tip. Absolutely amazing tatt and he came out 100% satisfied.
The staff may be a little... unconventional. And talky. And I could say more but I won't tarnish this review. But they do damn fine tattoos. I was even all "I'M GAY!!!" to my obviously straight artist and he just laughed and messed with me and had a good time over it. Kudos.
Highest rec.
UPDATE: My homeboy, Rudy, who later reviewed on his own tatt that I referenced said it is "not cool" to refer to this place as "cute." Whatever. I hope you awesome people at Uptown aren't turned off by the gayness of "cute." Because, after all, I managed to stifle my laughter when my friend was getting his tattoo while someone else who was "straight" was getting a tattoo on his pelvic bone while his "girlfriend" was getting another tattoo.
Hip tattoos on guys are gay. I'd rather say that Uptown Tattoo is a respectable, clean, and -- yes -- "cute" place than get a tattoo near my crotch. The former is not quite so gay. The latter quite is. Trust.
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I got my bellybutton pierced here by Art. Very clean, professional and friendly. The whole thing (including barbell) was 60 bucks with coupon printed from their website. I definitely recommend it!
Last night, I had quite a few drinks and thought it would be an excellent idea to get a tattoo. I stumbled out of The Spot and into the Tattoo Factory. Once I walked in, I started looking around, and had visions of shooting stars. So I asked for a small tat on the back of my neck, and they drew a few designs for me. Then they inked me!!!! w00t! My new tattoo is so cute!
It didn't hurt that bad....and they didn't charge me that much.
They asked me if it was my first time, I said "Yep. The first of many...."
I will be back...
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Jay Redden has put me through immense amounts of pain, but everything looks amazing and she's a total sweetheart, so i can deal. Recommended!
I went here to buy jewelry for one of my piercings. The shop is HUGE and bright. The guy working there was very nice and helpful, aiding me in choosing a good fitting piece of jewelry and making some small talk. The jewelry selection was small, and it was a tiny bit disorganized (the CBRs were in a bag, all mixed together), but the guy was really cool about sorting and helping me find a matching pair of rings.
The price wasn't terrible. Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but I didn't feel like the shop was in a particularly safe section of town. Despite the late hours, I wouldn't go there too late at night.
They're big on cleanliness here, in fact, they'll go out of their way to assure you that everything is all sorts of clean, and make sure you come away with care instructions for whatever you've just had done to yourself. And if you encounter the guy with the digital camera while you're there, your piercing or tattoo will live in infamy, even 7 years later.
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I got my nose pierced here more than a year ago, and Zack was awesome. It was my first piercing ever {I don't remember getting my ears pierced because I was 3 months old} and Zack was very helpful about care instructions afterwards.
When the gem fell out of my original stud one morning, I went in and Zack replaced it for free. Everyone in there has always been helpful and nice to me.
It also doesn't hurt that I live nearby this place - it's within walking distance.
Overall, I've had good experiences there with friends and on my own.
I really love this place. First it doesn't look like a tattoo shop but rather an artists building with flat screen TV's. It is so clean and wonderful. I really love my tattoo that was done by Jay. I have gotten so many compliments and the one I had done was quite intricate. Also, if you want a piercing- Hank is your man! As he says- "Be swank- get peierced by Hank". Hank really loves what he does and does high quality work. He also is great at putting you at ease and really cares about his customers and the work he does. I am looking forward to getting my 2nd tattoo- and this is definitely my place for it.
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Love this place. The first time I went here I got my septum repierced (i got it at a really crappy place in gary when i was 16 before so it was crooked) They forgot to ask me to pay, so me being an honest person went back & insisted that I pay. They gave me a tshirt.
Then I became friends with Dawn, one of the tattoo artists. She did a tribute laurel wreath to our friend that passed. She's good at all styles, but I really love how she does black & grey. Go to her. I also have a tattoo done by beth. She blended some really cool colors together.
The few bad reviews I've read on here could possibly be from douchebags
The Tattoo Factory is NOT the cheapest place to get inked. So why take the risk of getting a bad, cheap tattoo that's going to blur and look even worse? Do you want to have "CHI-TONW" on your chest? If so, go elsewhere. You're paying for the experience, professionalism, and artistry that their people have.
The staff is friendly and they listen to what you want. One of the reasons I love this place is because there aren't a ton of people just hanging out here (something I've seen at other tattoo parlors). If you're here, you're serious about getting a tattoo or piercing.
Phil has done three of my tattoos, two traditional sparrows and something that I drew myself. He's really professional and took his time with all of them. The place itself is VERY clean, and they make sure you know that everything they use is sterile. If you're a newbie to the shop, you get the Tattoo Factory pack. It includes a t-shirt, stickers, and a coupon for your next visit (because they know you'll be back).
I wouldn't get tattooed anywhere else.
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I've had four tattoos done here, and all of them are crisp looking and the color is great.
The artists (I've had Phil and Mike do my tats) are helpful, friendly, and willing to work with you on a custom design, even if you're a walk in customer.
I've heard people complain about the price, but I'd rather have pros do my tats and have them look great for a lifetime than pay 50 bucks less at some other place and have lower quality work.
The Tattoo Factory rocks my socks!
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All I can say about my experience there was:
WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER
I went in to get a small tattoo (a treble clef) around 1 am on Saturday and was treated with the worst respect. First, there were two older men standing at the corner of the counter making some kind of belittling comments about me to a friend. They were joking around but when I don't know you and you insult me, I'm going to be offended.
Then comes the tattoo design. Some kid drew up the design and then the guy who was going to do the actual tattooing (SALVATORE PERRY) was giving me grief about the size I wanted it (about the size of a 50 cent piece) by making jackass comments and quoting me at insane prices. He pretty much acted like a jaded @**hole and finally settled on a price of 60 dollars after first pricing me at 300, 180, 110, and 80. I know that 50 is the standard for most places, but I told him I came to their establishment because they had the best prices (it says they start their tattoos at $30 on their website) and then he told me that that's not what the website says, sarcastically remarked how it was so reassuring that I chose their business, and then continued to make some kind of analogy of tattoos to McDonald's and hotdogs...?!
To say the least, after all the BS, I decided to leave and will not be returning back.
This review really doesn't do justice to the actual experience I had there, but I left very disappointed and quite upset that such a "renowned" business could have employees that act so unprofessional. I don't know why they decided to give me such a hard time, but the only thing I could conclude from my experience and observations of them and their attitudes, is that they assume they can be jerks to whomever they want and don't really care about the customer unless they fit a particular profile. I guess you get what you pay for.
As I said, I will not be going back.
I plan on going to Tatu Tattoo.
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My girlfriends and I decided to all get tattooed for our girls nite out. We went to the factory, which is a very fitting name for the place. We were treated like meat right from the get-go from the scummy guys who worked there. (Girls do NOT wear any type of sexy outfits here, you will only get oogled and feel uncomfortable and CREEPED OUT like we did!!)
The 3 of us decided on chinese characters, and afterwards we all felt like we were seriously ripped off. These were out first tattoos and we had no idea what they were supposed to cost, I suspect the artists that gave us the price saw that we were newbies to the tattoo life. The kanjis ran us $150 a piece and they each took about 10 minutes to do. Even my doctor doesn't get paid that much!! My one girlfriends tattoo was so badly infected, that they had to go and get it lasered off! She now has a horrible scar to boot.
I would not recommend this place to anyone, not even my ex-husband!! Yes, it's THAT bad. It's in a really bad neighborhood too, but of course, they don't tell you that when you call to ask for directions on the phone.
We won't go back and neither will our other friends, I suggest you research this place too before spending your hard earned money here. And make sure that they change the needles before they tattoo you. My girlfriend swears to GOD that they used the same needle on her as they did on our other friend!!!
Scary. What's with David hasslehoff too?
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I got my labret pierced here by Hank. I was referred to him by my friend Sheena. He is absolutely LOVELY. The way he recited the aftercare directions kind of made me smile a lot, it seemed as if he memorized it. But otherwise, I love how he talks to you while he's piercing. If you're nervous, him talking to you really calms the nerves. He's not one of those piercers that just doesn't give a shit. I asked him his opinion of where my piercing should be and he gave me a reason of why he picked the spot. And he told me if I ever needed anything to call him or come into the studio. One thing though, I asked him if I would likely to have gum recession and he told me it's not likely. Well, I ended up getting it, so now I think I have to go back and ask him about it or else just use BioPlast jewelry. Also, it's not a cheap place. It cost me $60 something with a 10% off coupon.
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I love this place, I've been pieced twice there before and last night I went to get my first tattoo. I was a little upset only because I received a quote on the phone, two in person. Then it was upped so I had to size down. Then the artist who did it barley spoke to me and when I asked a question seemed quite annoyed. After I went to pay with my credit card and he lowered the price $30 if I paid with cash; which was great but pissed me off more because at that point he could of done it at the size I wanted for the price I was quoted. I mean seriously? So from now on I will go to the place I was suggested and told to go to called 'Tatu Tattoo' over in Wicker Park.
However, ever need a piercing, please do go to Tattoo Factory and see Hank. He is THE BEST piercer I've even been to and makes you feel VERY comfortable.
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I got my third tattoo here and overall was pretty okay with the experience. My tattoo artist wasn't very friendly and when I called to make the second appointment like she suggested she seemed to totally blank when I know she took down my name and wrote in her planner when my three month mark would be. She even told me it would be free to come in the second time....since the tattoo is on my foot it is harder to heal and they would recolor for free.
After some discussion I who I was and what I had gotten done she did remember me and scheduled me for my second session. It's been a little over 7 months since that session and I have needed to go back in for another....she told me if I had any problems to call and they would get me in and not charge me the full rate! That's BS every time I call they want to recharge me the full amount. I've been fighting with them for months and just decided to give up!
I've went to other places to get a couple of my tattoos done and one even guarantees color...I've went in twice since I've gotten it done just because it's faded because of how long I've had it and never had a problem.
I got a tattoo here in 2005. We came here because it was open late, and I had to get the tattoo that day because I didn't want to overthink it, or else I would have changed my mind.
The prices were high, but luckily I didn't have to pay it, because I asked my wealthy friend, "If I got a stupid tattoo, would you pay for it?" and she said yes!
I heard this place isn't very professional. I looked very underage and the didn't ID me. I got really drunk beforehand; they said nothing. I had a girl with black hair. She was nice, I guess. It turned out fine.
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The shop is really cool looking and clean. I felt like I was at a party the whole time I was there!
Chris wagman really hooked me up! I'm in love with my tattoo and look forward to going back there again and again!
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I'm done with Tattoos. But I heard that the Tattoo Factory also did piercings. So, I came here to get my nose re-pierced about a month ago.
The location in Uptown is going through some changes. They are putting up a retail store across the street. I guess you could say it's up and coming.
Walking in you will notice that this place is kept CLEAN. The guy who did my piercing was awesome.
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First, I will say this place is very nicely decorated and clean. I will give them that.
But damn, I will never get tattooed there ever again. I went with a friend to get diamonds tattooed behind our ears. The guy we originally had an appointment with backed out, said he didnt feel comfortable doing it. Fine. So this girl comes up and promises us that she can do it and it will come out amazing. My friend goes first, hers come out fine. Then its my turn, and of course mine get screwed up. One of the diamonds is shaky, while the other isnt anything like the first one. They look effin AWFUL. When the girl was done she tried to rush me out before letting me look in the mirror. I asked for the mirror and when I saw how messed up they were I started to cry. I was never offered to not pay, instead she told me to come in a second time and get more work done on them. Are you an idiot? You screwed up my tattoos and now you want me to pay you again to screw them up some more?
Im getting mad just reliving this incident.
DO. NOT. GO. THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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All I have to say about this place is stay away. I brought my girlfriend here to get a tattoo of a small tribal and were way overcharged. They started out with a semi-decent price, but then kept adding on all kinds of hidden charges. I paid the price and she got her generic tattoo.
As we were leaving about 11pm at night, we walked to our car and some guy bum rushes my girl and snatches her purse. I chased him down the alley until he got in an awaiting car.
This place s--ks all the way around. High prices, bad area, rather arrogant employees and bums all around. Stay away from here, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
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I was very impressed with how clean the "new" Tattoo Factory is. I got my first (of two) tattoos in 1994 when they were across the street. That was an "experience" to say the least.
I got my second tattoo just 6 months ago, Dawny was the artist. She did nice work and was very patient with me as I nearly fainted three times when she was working on the ankle bone! It was pricey, but I think it was worth it.
Drawback: I wished that they had had cold water ... or that I had brought some with me. I guess not too many people get faint there : )
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I recently went here to get my nose pierced. Now, I already have two tattoos, but for some crazy reason, I was more nervous about getting pierced. No idea why. Anyway, first impressions are big, and this place really impressed me. VERY clean, and the staff was incredibly nice and friendly (None of that, we're-so-effin' -hardcore-and-badass-it-hur ts bullshit). Also, it was just plain snazzy looking---leopard print carpet, dark cabinets, granite countertops, etc.
Along with that, the guy who pierced me was AWESOME. (His name is Hank. I very much recommend him!) He was so kind, and did not make me feel like a wuss because I was a little nervous. Extremely professional as well. (Plus, the price was quite reasonable).
Overall, it was a FABULOUS experience. Now, I did inquire about getting a pretty small, two-color tattoo in the future, and they did quote me at $170 for it, which I found to be a little steep. However, I would still consider it based on how rockin' this place was. Check it out!
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Casey and Jay do great, quality work. Both of them are wonderful talents. The shop is immaculate and looks amazing.
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Don't go anywhere else.
I've had all of my work done at the Tattoo Factory and have taken several friends. No complaints. Mike's done all of my work but I've heard nothing but good things about all of their artists. Their new facilities are top-notch and they do great work. The old place across the street wasn't as inviting, it definitely had a different vibe. Comfortable, clean, professional, and reasonably priced. I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for" so if you want to go somewhere else looking for a deal, go right ahead.
But you've been warned.
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I tried to go to another establishment in Chicago to have my tattoo done, and did not get the response that I was looking for. It's because I heard about a certain artist at this Other place that I decided not to go to Tattoo Factory first. Big Mistake, again. I always end up trying some sorry place first, then coming to Tattoo Factory second. I don't know why because the people at Tattoo Factory are so helpful, respond QUICKLY by email, and work with me to get the tattoo that I want, exactly as I want it. Today I had an amazing tattoo done by Dawn G. I couldn't believe the detail she reproduced. It's dead on, and I love my tattoo. My body is now her mural, and if you want your ink to look professional, go to Tattoo Factory. If you email them beforehand, they will respond, and their prices are very reasonable. You get what you pay for. I'd write more, but I'm going to admire myself.
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my friend gus and i were in here a few days ago and both of us wanted army tattoos. we're getting shipped to iraq at the end of this month, and in case we get split up, we wanted to get the words brothers forever tattoos on our arms to symbolize the beginning of journey that our lives were about to take.
we go into this place in this GHeTTo neighborhood and ask the tall skinny guy who looks like he has aids if he would draw us up something cool. as soon as we told him what we wanted, out came almost every gay joke from the chubby balding guy behind the counter. then they priced the TWO WORDS AT $300 EACH!!!!
that wasnt the worst. the worst was how then they all started taking jabs at us how we are george w's pawns, how we shouldnt be supporting his cause and how we should screw the army and how it's been nice knowing us, since we'll be dead in 6 months.
me and my friend could not believe how anti american thos jerks were. and even though we were not gay, the gay jokes were uncalled for. what a bunch of racist un-american a$$es. we didnt get tattoed, and dont plan on going back. this place just flat out blows.
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after struggling with finding a nice, clean tattoo shop with talented female artists (you wouldn't believe how many shops are exclusively men -- women are so underrepresented in the tattoo industry), i finally came across the tattoo factory. (their reviews on yelp were pretty positive, and their website was very clear and contained lots of images of the artists' work.)
although i was somewhat skeptical when i was biking up the place, when i walked in, my fears were quenched. not only was the shop very clean and cute, but "hedwig and the angry inch" was playing on the tvs and sound system (which my other tattoo is based upon). i relaxed and felt that my being there was fate.
when i met with jay from the shop to do a custom piece, i found her to be very attentive and creative. she asked a lot of questions about what i was looking for, asked if i wanted to do it immediately, and when i said that i preferred to wait, she scheduled a time with me the following week. during that week, i rethought a couple ideas, and sent her a long email with some more pictures. i was afraid that she was going to be upset and unresponsive to my (somewhat) last minute alterations, but she once again was very patient and understanding, saying that they sounded great.
while getting the tattoo done, my experience as a patron was very professional, sensitive, and friendly. i even got a free "tattoo factory" shirt with my piece. and i can't be any happier with my artist, my tattooing experience, or how my tattoo eventually came out. :- )
(they loose a little bit of points with me because there are nearly twenty artists and only three of which are women, and because it is a large shop and feels the tinnnnnsy bitist corporate. but hey.)
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After my horrible experience at That Other Place (please see my reviews if interested), we decided to trek up north to the place where my gf got one of her tattoos done and has always raved about. The Tattoo Factory is exactly the type of place I feel safe in, and confident about the work I am getting done. It's clean and well lighted -- and these things are extremely important if you're getting something permanent (or semi-permanent -- I got my nose pierced) done. It is absolutely not sterile-looking or -feeling, however. It's my kinda place -- lots of stylized flash is drawn all over the walls,and yes there are a ton of designs catelogued for you to look at while you wait.
All three of the people we dealt with were extremely friendly and really, really cool (take that, Other Place jerks -- what's with people feeling like they have to be cold to be cool? you know?). I felt comfortable with all of them, and we even talked about pricing for my next tattoo with one of the artists -- he remembered my gf's tattoo from a couple of YEARS ago. Anyway, Hank did my piercing, and this man knows what's up. He made me sit through a physician's office type tutorial about how to take care of my piercing, what to expect, and even chummed with me about my occupation and my girlfriend's, as well as why he loves his job. It was really, really cool and he was very geniune. He called me by my name and remembered it the whole way through the experience (very nice because I've had professors take the entire semester to remember my name).
When it came to the piercing, it only hurt as much as he said -- just a little. He used sterile equiptment and a brand new stud which he took out only just before he pierced me. He told me before every move he made, and i wasn't nervous or scared at all. Afterward, he let me admire it, talked to me a bit more, and led me out. The only thing that could have made the experience better was if my gf had been allowed in the piering area... but she was very close by, so it was cool. Hank is a genuine sweetheart. I totally recommend going here for your next piercing or tattoo. They did amazing work on my girl, and I love my piercing. Absolutely wonderful experience.
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Im only giving this place two stars because I like the paint job in the new place. Otherwise. Nothing.
Im 20 years old and I have about 10 hours worth of tattooing on my body as well as a few piercings. No big deal really. The Tattoo Factory happens to be down the street a few blocks from my house. I was rather impressed at the new studio. Very nice. But it stopped there. I was looking through flash because I was being ignored again and again- the flash- eh at best, but then again, who gets flash?
I was standing at the front of the counter for probably half an hour. This was on a Wednesday- not too busy. Steady I would say.
I totally understand busy businesses and Im willing to wait my turn in silence, but they were taking care of people behind me!!
Did I have an invisibility cloak on? Must have...
I finally got asked "Are you here for something?" To which I replied "Yes." I should have left after that half hour, but something was making me stick it out. I had ventured out there to get my septum pierced.
I should have just gone home.
I cant say anything about the tattoo artists, or the other piercers- they may have been amazing for all I know. But the girl who did my piercing...well, I assumed she knew what she was doing.
WRONG!
Septum piercings are like an art...an art which she was not well versed. I should have spoken up! But I did not!
Septums are about the "sweet spot" Where they are higher up, and rest against the cartiledge of the nose- for protection and so on.
She pierced mine somewhere in the middle, and then proceeded to put a huge (im not kidding, it was the size of a quarter) horse shoe ring in it.
Well, it clinked on everything I tried to drink- so needless to say, I took it out a day later.
It was sad, but thats when I stopped thinking people know what they are doing.
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I decided to treat my self to some delicious pain today (2/07) and get some piercings I've been considering about for a while. I gave The Factory a call and headed over for an afternoon of fun. My artist Zack was awesome, super cool and upfront about stuff. Answered all my questions and was honest about what would work and what wouldn't. During the piercing, his meticulous care and precision was exactly what I like when I get body mods done. If you head down to get something done just be aware that the area the Tattoo Factory is in is a bit ghetto, but the actual establishment is excellent.
Pros: Professional, Clean,
Cons: Parking on weekends, pain (only if you're a sissy)
Cost: 3.5 of 5
Overall Rating: 4.75 of 5
Recommendation: Highly Recommended
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This was my third tattoo but the first time to the Tattoo Factory; the place is huge, clean, and has tons of art work you can pick from.
After looking at the online portfolios, I contacted Dawn Grace and set up an appointment. I gave her my general ideas and some basic art work but Dawn really created something unique and beautiful for me. I got it on my wrist, which is a sensitive spot, but Dawn has a soft touch and made sure I was comfortable throughout the process. Dawn took her time to make sure the tattoo was just right.
I've read other reviews about the price being high, but that wasn't my experience. I found the price to be very fair and well worth it! Don't be cheap people- this is a permanent piece of artwork on your body! Spend the money to be happy with what you get.
From now on, I will ONLY go to the Tattoo Factory. Thanks Dawn for the great tattoo!
Birthday present to me....my first tattoo! I know enough people with tattoos and it's gotten me thinking the last few months that it might be something I might want. I had an idea of what I wanted and where I wanted to put it but after discussions with friends, I changed the area on my body and I'm quite happy with it. I ended up at the Tattoo Factory upon a recommendation from a co-worker and also checked out all the reviews on Yelp. I went a few nights before to check out their library and picked out 3 choices. A couple days later I had brunch with a few friends then we made the trek here. I showed them my 3 choices and I picked one. I am really glad I went a few days early to look around because the one I had in my mind that I liked the best ended up being the one I liked the least of the 3 picked out in the end. I am not giving them 5 stars mainly because we just stood around with no one to help us. Finally a friend of mine went to the piercing guy and asked if they had a sign-up list because there were a lot of people mulling around. Then it just happened that 3 of the 4 people getting inked all finished at one time so there were plenty of people to help me then. Phil was the one who worked on me and was very patient and helpful in explaining what was going to happen and even dealt with the gang taking pics from the other side of the wall. I ended up with a small butterfly between my ankle and foot. I had wanted to do it on the foot but Phil explained to me how they could not guarantee it there because you're putting on socks & shoes all the time, it may not heal as well and the color may not stick. Glad he told me!! All in all, I had a good experience although I don't think I'm going to be getting more, well...never say never. The place was very clean and comfortable and I would recommend them and even have a friend now thinking about a tat!!
i have two tattoos and i received both of them here. my good friend chris wagman works here. i would definitely recommend this place to anyone. it is very spacious for a tattoo parlor, and it is extremely clean. also it LOOKS and FEELS clean, which is important when needles are involved. they were all very friendly and talked w/ me to help me from being nervous the first time. i don't think i'd get tattooed anywhere else, honestly.
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I hate tattoos. They're just unnecessary, like painting a rose. I did go through a hole-punch phase when every snip of flesh needed to have a bit of metal in it, and for that sort of thing, I'd recommend the tattoo factory. At least, I'd recommend Hank, the guy who did my industrial.
The clientele at this place generally look like Hell's Angels, but I haven't been privy to any fights thus far. The employees are professional and-clean. Don't take clean for granted, people, 'specially not in a place where they stick needles into you.
Anyway, as it so happened, my ear just couldn't take the pressure from the industrial piercing, so Hank did it again. When it migrated out the second time, I decided it was time to end the hole-punch phase and put the jewelry away. Even so, I have good memories of sitting in the piercing parlor chatting with Hank about everything from architecture to modern education. He's a swell guy. You should get pierced by him just for the experience.
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I don't do tattoos or piercings but I have come here on a few occassions to take photos of my friends' faces when they were getting ink done. I must say Tattoo Factory is a fine establishment. When I walked in I noticed how clean and polished the place looked. There were seats for all the customers and the walls were covered with a giant library of tattoos for your perusal... Nothing I'd imagine getting immortalized in flesh, but you know, it's there. The staff were friendly and funny, all sharing that dark "alternative" look that you'd expect, and they make you feel right at home. They're quite willing to negotiate on tattoo pricings; a friend of mine likes to go in with her design and some cash and just asks how they can work it out. If you spend over $100, you get a free t-shirt. They can also pierce pretty much any part on you. Downsides? Well, there's no private booths, you just have to go sit behind the counter and get your work done in plain sight. Visitors aren't allowed behind the counter, but they can watch from over it. They do play terrible cheesy B movies to pass the time though, thankfully. My friends' tattoos have come out of the Factory at top quality. If you're interested, drop by and take a look at their portfolio of work. One of the best parlors I've seen.
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i went here with a friend for her birthday to get her first tattoo and my third and fourth. we walked in and got helped right away. beth did my tattoos and i loved her. i showed her two pictures of dancers, one i liked the arms and the other i liked the legs. she custom drew me a dancer based on what i showed her and it turned out better than i imagined. i also told her that i wanted 'passion' simply written in cursive between my pre-existing tattoo and the dancer i was going to get and the way she wrote it was perfect. she priced me at $150 all together, which was a little steep considering my cousin did my other tattoos for free, but actually seems pretty cheap compared to their other prices. she was really nice to me and talkative and funny and the guys were hanging around, i'm sure only because my vagina was nearly exposed, and they made me feel really comfortable. overall i am really happy with the work i got done and the sterile, clean, nice environment was great since i know a lot of places can be icky.
i'd go back.