I wanted a simple tattoo after my wedding shower and that's what I got. Â I was in and out in 15 minutes, no worries, no fuss, no one trying to intimidate us like we were newbies. Â Caroline did a great with what I wanted, wasn't at all pushy, and charged me very reasonably. Â She'll definitely be seeing me again soon for my next tattoo.
Review Source:12 years ago I got my first tattoo- a fairy on my lower back. (How cliche, I know). For the last 12 years I have regretted it. In hindsight, the tattoo artist was just a drunk, half-arse idiot. Over this last decade I have went into many a tattoo shop interested in a cover up. Every single shop refused. The tattoo had too thick of a black outline. Anything on top of it would look like a black blob.
Well, all y'all were wrong. Last week I walked into Family Tattoo which is conveniently a block away and was immediately greeted by James Aguila. I showed him the tattoo, told him what I wanted, and he said, "no problem." I set my appointment for a week later. Yesterday I came in and James showed me exactly what i had envisioned. I sat there for 3 hours and the end result was nothing short of AMAZING. James is super skilled, kind, and talented. I cannot see any trace of that darn fairy.
The pricing was way less than i had expected. I was once told by one cover-up artist that whatever he covered it with would take several sessions and cost around $500. What a joke. Family tattoo was more than fair, and I feel as though I should go back and give James more of a tip. (They are cash only.)
I am referring all my friends and all you yelpers to Family Tattoo. I will go there for ALL my future tattoos.
This is the best tattoo I have!
This is a place worth getting tattoos at - even while I was waiting for my artist to draw something up for me, I witnessed another artist patiently explain the process to a couple of first timers and answered all their questions politely.
I was able to walk in without an appointment and Kevin Leary accommodated all of my requests and offered helpful suggestions. He was friendly, professional, and patient (including when I passed out! I'm a wuss). The tattoo looks beautiful and the aftercare instructions I was given are thorough.
Family Tattoo done won me over.
Great and friendly tattoo place! We came for a small tattoo and the results are great! Our tattoo artist made sure that the location is perfect and re-did the layout per my request. The only reason for not giving 5 stars is because we had to wait quite a while for our tattoo caused by casual chats, eating, and socializing. But we were not in the rush.
Review Source:Heard good things about this place. Sat in on a friend's session with Caroline and it's a winner for sure. Caroline paid a lot of attention to detail and spend a good amount of time making sure the art was exactly what my friend wanted and didn't make her feel uncomfortable asking to make changes.
Review Source:Simply said, The girl in the front who first spoke to me was very polite at first but became very irritated with me when I asked her for a quote on a second tattoo. Then when she forwarded the question to another artists he rushed through the basics as if he was busy at that moment (I was the only person in there). I definitely would not recommend this place no matter how good their work is, first impressions are everything.
Review Source:Family tattoo is awesome. Especially for first time tattoo-getters. Getting a tattoo for the first time is always a little overwhelming. Even more so when you enter a place where tattoo-covered workers are unfriendly and you get nervous just looking at the wide open space behind the counter where tattoos are being done in open view. That was the place my friend and I went to before finding Family Tattoo. The workers at Family Tattoo give off good friendly vibes and they're very understanding towards ridiculous tattoo questions. I forget the name of the guy who did mine (sorry!) but He was awesome..! I told him what I wanted and he designed it on the spot for me and made changes to the design that I wanted. All for the price of $60.. Unlike the previous place which charged $100. Family Tattoo has individual rooms separated by curtains where you get your tattoos done, which I prefer much better than the previous place. I like the privacy.
If i do get a 2nd, I would fly all the way back to Chicago to Family Tattoo to get it!
Unfortunately I can't comment on the art work as I never ended up getting a tattoo here. When I came in for a  consultation, they were extremely rude, despite the fact that they were open for another hour with no clients, with a big "walk ins welcome" sign. The girl who spoke to me became especially rude when I said this would be my first tattoo, as if I'm some prissy straightedge and they're too good for me. Sorry to bother you, I'll take my money where it'll be appreciated.
Review Source:This place is absolutely wonderful. We walked in late one night to get a quote after visiting another popular Tattoo spot. Not only the quote was less, but they offered to do it on the spot, since ours were on the smaller size, and we both had the designs we wanted. I am chicken when it comes to pain. I still tear up when I get paper cut, and I was freaking out before getting mine. The artist, John, was very calm, easy going, and professional. He asked just the right amount of questions and  had the right answers to my silly questions to calm me down.
I thought it would hurt like hell, but it didn't at all. Strangely, I felt really chilled and the whole experience was very relaxing. Since the tattoo was on my back, I didn't look at it at all, but instead tensed myself waiting for the pain to hit, but from the beginning to the end nothing hurt. The tattoo came out beautifully and I could have not asked for a better and smoother first time.
I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone. They are clean, friendly, professional, and talented. I'm planning my second visit as I write!
Gilly has done a handful of my tattoos and im effing in love with every single one. He's professional, hilarious, and a perfectionist. He makes the time pass by quickly which is awesome when you're getting the bigger pieces. The owner lee is super friendly and helpful. If your looking for a shop to call home this is it.
Review Source:What a positive, happy experience. Â Caroline rules. Â From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, we felt welcome. Â What a sweetie Caroline is! Can't wait for my next one, because she is my girl. Told me, "honey, this part is gonna hurt the worst." I appreciate that! Everyone loves you, so this might not mean much. Â But my new tattoo means the world to me! xoxo
Review Source:Caroline did a cover up for me last night. Â The entire experience was fantastic! Â She is a great artist and I could not be happier with the outcome.
I also have a 30 year old bad tat, that I wanted covered. Â I gave Caroline an idea of what I wanted and her creativity did the rest! Â I never thought I would get another tat, but now I can't wait to do another. Â My kids want tats and I will take them to her when they are ready.
Family Tattoo is the best place by far. Â I did alot of research, went into several shops and this place has the best artists, atmosphere and know what they are doing.
Caroline Moody is absolutely amazing. Â Thanks!
It has become a cliche to leave a five star review for this place, but I feel obliged to share what a positive experience I had.
I spent several months scouring the portfolios of Chicago-based tattoo artists and eventually found Caroline A. Moody. Â I am so glad that I did. Â As soon as I saw her portfolio, I knew she was the one to do my tattoo and e-mailed her instantly.
I've had my tattoo for a few days now and STILL feel compelled to cry when I look at it. Â Honestly, it blows my mind every time I look at it that it's going to be a part of my body forever. Â It's absolutely breathtaking. Â People can't believe how realistic and beautiful it is when they see it, I've even had people who previously said they would never get a tattoo say that they are considering getting one based SOLELY on how beautiful my thigh is now. Â Any compliment I have received on it should be directed toward Ms. Moody, who really is an amazing talent.
My healing process has been really easy-going thus far and I'm not sure if that is good fortune on my part, or yet another shining example of Ms. Moody's professionalism. Â
Oh, and, when she told me how much she was charging my jaw nearly hit the fucking floor. Â I was literally prepared to spend twice the amount she charged me, especially considering both the size and quality of the final product. Â I got a relatively big, and extremely beautiful tattoo for a miniscule price.
Go to Family Tattoo and ask for Caroline A. Moody. Â It'll be the best decision you've ever made. Â Do it right now. Â Don't be a fucking idiot.
Caroline Moody is AMAZING! Â I cannot say enough good things about her, or my experience at Family.
So when I was 18 and stupid, I decided to drive out to boo foo Indiana with a friend and get tattooed (the legal age in IN was 18 at the time, and it was 21 in IL). Â So not only was this tattoo shop shady (the piercer gave me Vicodin and told me I would need it for the pain. Â No really, that happened), the artist pressed too hard on my back and gave me scar tissue there along with a REALLY stupid tribal tramp stamp. Â Yes, I know, I know, tribal is terrible, but once again- I was 18 and stupid.
Flash forward ten years. Â The older, wiser me decides to cover up the stupid tramp stamp. Â By now I have three other tattoos by two different artists, and both of them told me that I have scar tissue there which might make a cover up difficult. Â I was on the fence about just lasering the damn thing off, but decided to try to find another opinion. Â
Enter Family, and Caroline Moody specifically. Â I had never been to Family, but a friend of mine had work done there and loved the place, and clearly Yelpers love it too. Â I was really impressed with Caroline's art, so I emailed her with a picture of my crappy tattoo and asked her opinion about covering it up. Â She emailed back and said she agreed there was scar tissue but that she thought it could be done, and suggested I come in for a consult. Â When I did and she saw it in person, she said it for sure could be done, which was a huge relief for me. Â I didn't really have a solid plan for the tat, but had a photo of an art piece I had always liked that I thought might be cool. Â When I showed it to Caroline, she said she thought it was a great idea. Â She asked if she could work with the picture a bit, and I said absolutely. Â I set my appt up and a week later, she showed me the stencil. Â It was beautiful! Â I was blown away by how awesome it looked. Â She is a VERY talented artist! Â We did the outline that day, and the shading two weeks later. Â I am SO much happier with my lower back now! Â (I posted some pictures for anyone who wants to check it out) Â Caroline also wrapped my back with a burn bandage that I wore for the first two days after the shading session, and it kept my bed/clothes clean, which was awesome. Â The price was very fair too, especially for the quality of the work.
So in conclusion, Caroline is awesome, and now my back is a little more awesome thanks to her. Â :) Â I am positive she will be tattooing me again sometime in the near future. Â I would highly recommend this shop if you are looking to get tattooed!
1/17/13: Â I liked my initial tattoo so much, I ended up having Caroline turn it into a full back piece. Â Which I LOVE. Â I can't say enough good things about Caroline or this shop. Â And trust me, many people have asked me about my back, and I have been telling them all about Caroline/Family. Â So hurry up and go, people!
Emailed family tat w an idea i had & they quickly responded for me to come in. Â John John was able to take my vision & draw it out perfectly! I got a good size tattoo in the middle of my back, & it truly wasn't painful, he had a very light hand. It looks amazing and I can't wait for the warm weather to show my new tat off! Thanks John & Family Tattoo!!
Review Source:I had been planning my tattoo for quite some time and decided on Family Tattoo based on the wonderful reviews I read. Â I chose Caroline because I liked her art the best. Â My design was very simple (Hindi script on arm). Â I brought in my design and by the 2nd draft she had drawn it perfectly. Â She was super sweet, patient, and a total professional from start to finish. Â It was my first tattoo so I didn't know what to expect, and she said that I chose one of the more painful places for my first tattoo (inside of upper arm). Â Not sure if it was my high tolerance for pain (!) or her gentle hand, but she made me feel very comfortable and was finished in 15 minutes. Â She did an excellent job and I am thrilled with my results. Â The price also seemed very reasonable. Â If I ever have the need to get inked again, I will certainly go to Caroline.
Review Source:Coming from out of town, I did some research before coming to Family Tattoo and after my experience, I have to confirm all the 5 star reviews. I can see why this place comes so highly recommended! Things were great from start to finish. They were able to take me as a walk in shortly after opening and from the minute I entered, the laid back atmosphere immediately put me at ease. Caroline Moody was excellent--very professional and made the entire experience comfortable. Â I left extremely pleased and would definitely come back to see her again next time I'm in Chicago. This ranks as my best tattoo experience thus far.
Review Source:I was looking to add to my arm. A coworker recommended Family Tattoo. Weird name, out of the way shop, but totally worth it. Matt Wes took my idea and came up with an awesome design. Not his usual style but I'm psyched with the result. 9 months later and the colors are still super vibrant (while the one I got a year ago now looks like shit.). no fading at all. Matt was fast, awesome to talk to, and really, really talented. The price point was very fair. I really wish I hadn't left Chicago because I'd definitely go back for all my work in the future.
Review Source:I went to Family for my first time on Monday and ended up going back again on Wednesday. Â John did my first piece and then Gilly did my second one.
Everyone is very cool and laid back which added to having a good experience. Â I've been getting ink for the last 16 years and I think I've finally found a home base here in Chicago. John was cool, did a great job and I'd get more ink from him. Â Gilly was awesome as well, gives good tattoo advice (a friend was on the fence about one and he suggested to not do it), and he did a great job on my leg.
Excellent place, and I highly recommend Family.
Went in a few months ago to inquire about a large custom piece. They totally blew me off and gave me the feeling like I should impress them rather than the other way around. They had no customers in the place at the time yet behaved as if they were terribly busy and had no time to talk to me. They gave me their card and I walked out.
I hung on to the card for a while but finally threw it out when I became serious about the tattoo. I found another place much less pretentious and I am very happy with the work. Family tattoo lost out on a $1,000 tattoo and it will wind up being much more than that in the long run as I intend to extend it.
Sorry guys. There is alot to be said for just making people feel welcome. Maybe you are great tattoo artists but I will never know.
So in the past month I've gotten two tattoos from rich at family. Both times I had made an appointment and both times he was super prompt. All I can say is how happy I am. He was super awesome and incredibly reasonable. After getting tattooed for almost 4 hours the last time, I almost choked when he told me what I owed him (really, really reasonable!!!) Anyways, I will definitely be returning for future work.
Review Source:Look, I know these guys already have 66 reviews and they're all five-star reviews. Â So I'm being redundant. Â Big deal. Â They totally deserve it!
I went in tonight and got my first tattoo ever, ever, ever. Â I've been wanting this tattoo for 14 years (no joke) but never worked up the courage until now. Â In fact, I'd probably have found an excuse not to go this time, too, except that three of my best girlfriends decided that today was "it's Kelz' birthday and we're going to spoil her rotten" day. Â One of the gifts I received was............a trip to Family Tattoo for my first inking.
Enter Matt W. Â I wishy-washily explained my long-standing idea to Matt. Â Our conversation went like this:
Me: Â "uh... you know.. I kinda thought this one thing but... I don't know... maybe kind of like that...oh I don't know... uhm :::holds up thumb::: about this size? ish?"
Matt: Â *skritchskritchskritchonpaper* Â "how about something like this?"
Me: Â "Oh! Â Oh! Â omg, that's perfect!"
Less than an hour later, I walked out with the most gorgeously drawn, perfectly shaded dragonfly and shamrocks on my hip. Â I feel totally bad-ass...........cause yeah, I'm inked, baby, and damn, it looks good!
If you've never had a tattoo done before but want one, if you're new to the area and looking for a place to get yours done, you have GOT to go see these guys. Â Take my word for it - take the words of the other 66 five-star reviews... just go see these guys. Â They're quick, creative, helpful and their prices are *incredibly* reasonable. Â If you choose Family Tattoo for your work, you will NOT regret it.
My first tattoo was a doozy - a large, intricate script piece on my left side, vertically over my ribs. Not only did John do an absolutely beautiful job, but he was very patient with my sensitivity to pain, need to take breaks, and all my other neuroses. I highly, highly recommend Family Tattoo in general, and John in particular.
Review Source:Family Tattoo more than deserves its amazing reputation. I cannot imagine wanting to go to another shop in the midwest; I'll put the guys at Family up against anyone. I could go for pages singing their praise, but 'best shop in the midwest' seems strong enough. I encourage anyone who is serious about wanting to get work done to make an appointment here.
John is a crazy talented artist, but I would be excited to work with any of the artists here.
Matt, Bill, Rich and Lee of Family Tattoo are responsible for most of my work and they are the only shop I would go to in Chicago. Â
They'll do whatever flash you want but I'd suggest going in with an open mind and allowing them to work with the idea a bit. Â Their personal drawings and creations are fantastic, so live a little. Â If you're a very stubborn person going in with a horrible design that just 'cannot change', try not to be a total asshole when they attempt to work with you and save you from your own (probably) regrettable choices.
These guys are consistently producing great work at a reasonable price in a very relaxed environment. Â I always tell people about this shop and I highly recommend that you check it out for yourself.
I could not give Family Tattoo a higher recommendation!
I got a tattoo from John yesterday. Â He did beauitful work, and I definitely recommend him. Â I brought in a photo of the design I wanted and he was able to replicate it perfectly. Â The tattoo is exactly what I wanted and he did such an amazing job. Â I could not be happier! Â The prices were also very reasonable and I paid a lot less than I expected to. Â The place was super clean and everyone was very professional. Â I am definitely going here for all of my future tattoos, and you should too!!
When I found out that John had left my previous tattoo joint, I was uber disappointed until I discovered he is now at Family Tattoo. This was awesome for a couple of reasons: 1. He's AMAZING; and 2. The shop is 15 minutes from my place, rather than the hike out to Elgin.
John is a great guy. He's friendly, knowledgeable, and an awesome artist. He's done several pieces for me and I'll go to him to finish off my sleeve (he's done all of it so far). I usually go in with black and white line drawings and once he works his magic they are beautifully colored and shaded. I won't let anyone else tattoo me at this point.
The shop is clean and almost doesn't look like a tattoo joint from the storefront. I was there on a Monday night and parking was easy. The other guys in the shop were super nice as well, and it's clear that customer service is important to them. The prices are really reasonable and it's pretty easy to get a quick appointment, if not walk-in.
I tell everyone who asks about my tattoos where I got them and highly recommend this place. I won't go anywhere else.
This place is the only place I will be getting any work done from now on. My girlfriend and I were referred to Matt and when we first went in we both ended up getting ink. We were both sooo pleased with the work and the price that we stared referring people to him solely.Unfortunately, we had to wait almost a year to return for more because of money issues.
Clean. Friendly atmosphere. Better location than the one down the street. Much roomier. love it love it love it
The second time around it took a few months before we could all make time to sit down and really figure out what I wanted and when we did, it was incredible. Â I was able to get a pin-up girl that I'd fallen in love with. Matt nailed it. I'm so happy with my girl. I get asked to see and touch my ink all the time and asked where I got it done. I instantly tell them to come and see you Matt!!! The colors are amazing and the shading is perfect.
Bill ended up free handing something for my girlfriend and was able to do the work on the spot as Matt was working on me. It looks awesome as well!
Thank you Matt for giving me something that I have been wanting forever!!! I hope that the people that I have been referring to you guys have been coming in!!
We'll both be back soon to get some other things as soon as we can! Much love to all you guys!
FAMILY TATTOO FOREVER. lol
Seriously, AWESOME shop.
I decided today was a great day to get a tattoo and I'd heard wonderful things about the American Class/American Traditional work these guys do and so I gave them a call. Â John was free and totally fit me in as a walk in. Â
I told him what I wanted on the phone and he had it already traced out and ready to go when I got there and did a FANTASTIC job on the piece, even with my "maybe this" or "maybe that" nonsense. Â It was incredibly priced and I am nothing but satisfied. Â I will definitely be going back to get more work done.
The shop is impeccably clean, well lit and comfortable. Â The punk rock playing over the stereo didn't hurt either.
But yeah, AT LEAST five stars.
I like Family Tattoo a lot. I have been getting all my recent work done by Matt Wes there. He's super talented, as are all the other artists there. Super profesional, super clean, very reasonably priced, and everyone there is really friendly. I get compliments on my tattoos everyday. The colors are beautiful & the lines are super solid. Tons of my other friends have beautiful work from there as well.
How many times can I say "super" in one review? Yikes.
I have spoken to/gotten tattooed by a lot of totally incompetent, rude, horrible artists, and these guys are not that. Go to Family!
Matt Wes!
Matt Wes!
Matt Wes!
Did you happen to get my memo?
I have heard A LOT about Family Tattoo for a while. Because of this, a few weeks ago, I had the brilliant idea of getting a tattoo done on a "whim". T and I decided we would both get tattoos after a shopping extravaganza and delicious food at Portillo's.
We called the shop to ask if they were available for the both of us and they said come right in. Parking was easy to find and walking into the shop was a surprise all of its own. They were SUPER clean and very nice to us.
I told Matt that I wanted: a phrase in pretty cursive and that wasn't too big or too small. He went ahead and sketched out the phrase and let me hold it up to different areas and gave me his thoughts as to what he thought about how it flowed with my other tattoos. He suggested areas as to which where I might think about placing my tattoo since I like to keep mine well hidden. After an area was picked he took all the usual steps into getting a tattoo. Took my info, reminded me this was going to be permanent, and asked if I was serious about getting it and if I had any questions.
During the process of getting my tattoo, Matt took the time to talk to me and ask what my other tattoos were for and what they meant to me. He talked to me a little about himself and when my tattoo felt a little uncomfortable he reminded me to breathe. He was so gentle and creative with the swirls around my tattoo there were times where I asked him if he was still tattooing!
After the last touches in cleaning up my tattoo and going through how to properly take care of my tattoo, I expected Matt to immediately collect my payment and call it a day. Instead, he told me to hang out and we'd take care of it later when T was done. How nice!
Both tattoo artists were very nice to us and told us that they hoped we'd have a great rest of the night.
My tattoo has healed nicely and I am VOLUMES excited about how great it looks!
THANK YOU MATT!
What can I say that hasnt been said about this place. The tattoo artist are very profesional and will listen to your custom ideas. They will also ad their own spin to it. I asked for a custom piece, that was done by Rich Marafioti. My expectations were exceded and blown away. Their very talented and the price is reasonable for the type of work they do. None of that jade dragon tattoo or La Ink bullshit.
Review Source:You need to come here.
Family Tattoo lives up to it's name. The artists there treat you wonderfully and their work is some of the best in the city. Their new location is really nice and just adds to the whole package.
I get all my work done from Bill Smiles and he's really an amazing artist. I've been to him many times while working on my sleeve project and he's really the nicest tattoo artist you'll ever meet (well really all the guys at the shop are super nice!) He has a way with color and he always seems to have the perfect suggestion for that spot you're not sure what to do with...or for what color that flower should be. He really has a great eye for color and detail and for listening to what you want. I have a lot of tattoos but I always get compliments on the pieces that Bill did for me. Once you come here you'll be a convert too!
If I could give more stars, I would !!!
Like many other people, Family Tattoo was recommended to me from a couple of my friends. Everyone in the shop is really friendly, but I chose to have Bill Smiles do my tattoos because of his use of vibrant, well blended color. Â He has a really great way of of understanding and drawing out YOUR ideas, without diluting them with something he likes or envisions instead. He also takes the time to show you the different ways your tattoo will look depending on the placement, instead of just wanting to get it started and finished right away. So far, I have had three tattoos done by him, and I really can't pick a favorite because I love them all. It's a shame all businesses aren't run like this.
Greatest shop ever! Ive been to quite a few shops in my life and NOBODY takes care of you like Lee does.
I give him the idea, he perfects it and the best part is he charges about 1/2 to 3/4 less for better work!
Everyone at the shop is very friendly and always willing to talk to you and help you out. No pressure, no BS. Best, best , best!!!
I can't believe I haven't yelped about this place already. Awesome shop. Â I've gotten a few tattoos here from Bill Smiles and just got my newest one from Matt Wes. Both are exceptionally talented artists and fun guys to spend a few hours with. The shop itself is nice, clean, and comfortable, and the staff really knows their shit if you have questions about placement etc. Pricing is more than fair especially considering the quality of work and service. Â There are a lot of great tattoo shops in Chicago but you really can't do much better than this one. And it's not haunted like SOME places I could mention.
Review Source:I just returned by getting another outstanding tattoo by Rich Marafioti at Family Tattoo. Â I now have the bragging rights of having the 1st tattoo done at their new location - 2125 W Belmont. Â
While this shop is still under construction you can tell it is going to be first class. Â The individual tattooing areas are spacious, the lighting is great and it is beginning to be decorated with good taste. Â The neighborhood is a mix of antique shops, art studios and restaurants with plenty of good street parking. Â
Rich does outstanding work. Â I had emailed him with an idea and he turned it into a beautiful work of art that I will have forever. Â He is genuinely a nice person and keeps up good conversation while working. Â The detail that he put in this tattoo is incredible.
Get in line people.
before i begin an actual review...
just because this place is called family tattoo, that does not mean you can bring your babies/young children in here. okay? we clear? we good? cool.
ok, onward. this place rules. no attitudes, no bullshit. bill smiles did an awesome job creating/finishing my half-sleeve. if you're into super-fine line work, he's your guy. if you want a tattoo of insanity wolf, he's your guy. Â the other guys working there are great too. i feel like i'd want them all nearby if i was ever about to get into a bar fight. just sayin'.
maybe don't go there if you're looking for a "miami-ink" type of experience. you'd be doing everyone a favor.
Seriously, what is with all the 5 star reviews?! Are there no people with good tattoo work left in this city?
I have proof of bad tattoo art. The tattoo artist Bill did a sad, blotchy job on the simple design I asked for (a green chinese character) and faired a little better on my back. The one on my back are the first I recieved and I liked the job he did, but they were, again, very simple (just words and more mandarin characters). When it came to color, he not only messed up mine, but my father's and mother's as well! And he pressed so hard on the back of her neck, that he left scar tissue! Every tattoo artist is supposed to know how to do these things!! We're kinda a tattoo family, and I would call my mom the "tattoo connaissuer" -- because a reknowned tattoo artist did her arm.
You can do better than this place!
TATTOO PARTY!!!!!
So my sister Tina, my cousin Nick, and I went here all to get tattoos yesterday. Â TATTOO PARTY!!!! Â FAMILY TATTOO PARTY AT FAMILY TATTOO!!!!
Yeah, there's a reason this place has a five star average rating.
I won't bore you with comical comments like I usually do, seriously follow all the five star ratings below. Â
I'll just say, I spent literally about 45 seconds explaining the tattoo I wanted, and drew out probably the crappiest line drawing in the history of line drawings. Â
Matt sat down and drew it out over maybe another 45 minutes, showed it to me, and it was a perfect design, no changes at all.
We talked about color, and got to work.
It looks great, probably ten times better than I imagined.
Cousin Nick, and sister Tina, we all got inked at once, and their tats (Rich and Bill) look kick-ass too.
Have your family reunion at Family Tattoo. Â We did.
Six flags. Â More flags, more fun.
Two words: Rich Marafioti.
If you're looking to get some ink done, whether for the first time or to add to your collection, go to Rich at Family Tattoo.
Having never been tattooed, I was really nervous but even more determined to get a piece done in honor of my late grandmother. A good friend of mine got an incredible Day of the Dead tattoo done by Rich, so he went highly recommended. I had been corresponding with Rich via e-mail about my idea and he went ahead and created a design for me. A cameo-inspired portrait of my grandmother, from a portrait of her taken in 1951. Rich absolutely replicated the picture and made a phenomenal design for the frame. The shading is unreal, and it looks like a beautiful work of art. Â
People stop me everywhere I go complimenting my tattoo. I couldn't be happier with the work that Rich did, and proudly wear my ink.
If you're thinking about getting a custom tattoo, go to Rich Marafioti. Don't even consider anyone else!
I got my first tattoo here from Lee in 2006 (yeah took me a while to get on here I know!) and I absolutely love it. Everyone that works here is very professional and makes you feel very comfortable. I really appreciated Lee's input - they are, after all, the professionals - and am glad that I listened to his suggestions. They know what is going to work, and do their best so that you have a beautiful and lasting tattoo. I recommend Family Tattoo to everyone I know and would never get a tattoo anywhere else.
Ask them to throw on some Happy Schnapps Combo while you're getting your work done and I promise you won't regret it!!!
I've been tattooed by Bill, Lee, Matt, and Rich and I have to say that there is no dead weight in this shop. Every artist brings a different style and talent to the table so be sure to check out all of their portfolios and talk with the artists. This isn't a tattoo mill, their customers are repeat customers with high standards, which says a lot for the quality of the work and environment. I'm writing this review for brand new customers with a specific warning, if you go somewhere else for your first tattoo you might walk away scammed and disappointed. These guys don't disappoint.
Review Source:Family Tattoo is a great place to get tattooed. I had a guy named Bill who is as sweet as they come. I asked Bill if he was interested in doing some filler pieces on my arm,, Bill took his time with me and we sat and discussed all the little pieces I was thinking about and drew them up for me and he gave me some imput and I really appreciated it, he was great, clean, and really funny. I have been tattooed by some of the other guys there in the past and they are all awsome at there craft. I will for sure go back there and get more tattoos by these guys. Thanks Bill for making my visions become reality.
Review Source:Another "thank god for yelp" story - after a few hours (and perhaps an alcoholic beverage or three) at the Hungry Brain last year, I happened to notice this tattoo shop and found the name SO amusing that I looked it up. Â Reading all the five-star reviews here, I decided that I'd check out Family Tattoo for my next tattoo...
Bill Smiles took fanTASTic care of me. Â Sketched out exactly what I wanted, was totally laidback about my needle-phobia (helpfully distracting conversation), and I'm 100% happy with my work. Â Price was reasonable, and no crazy waitlist like some super-famous shops around the city.
Went back to have the tattoo on my leg finished,shading,color. The tattoo was done very well and many people asked where it was done.Now with color and shading its almost a daily occurance where someone asks or makes a positive comment,it could not had gone better, and Matt, I'll be back soon to add some more. Clean shop,good music, positive artists......check it out.
Review Source:I love everything about this shop....Last year I went to Frank for the first time .....he not only did an absolutely perfect job on my cat mask ...and my friend's ...but touched up another tattoo I had done that was less than perfect ........
I was looking to get another recently ...upon hearing that Frank moved to florida ...I was devastated ....So I decded to go in and see if maybe someone else could wow me as frank did ....
Rich did an equally amazing job....even though I was the last client of the night ...he took his time and made sure it was perfect ...even giving me suggestions as to the size ...and what amount of detail might show ....
I like this shop because it's laid back ...you don't get a free t-shirt ...they don't give you a care sheet ....They play the best music (Dwarves when I was there ..xtra stars )...they are clean ....and professional ....and give their 100% to whomever comes in to their shop ....
I will be back many more times to Rich ...thank you  thank you for the mazing job you did !!
I've gotten all my tattoos here. In terms of the basic esstials of a tattoo place they are on point. They are clean, well priced, and nice people. Â However, they ended up giving me larger tattoos that i would have like because they INSISTED it would look terrible if i didn't. Â I'm a little bit regretful since then. Â
1. Know EXACTLY what you want and do not allow them to convince you of anything style wise
2. They are typical tattoo/hardcore music elitists so they aren't going to chat you up in the friendliest of ways while you're getting your work done.
Family Tattoo is hands down one of the best shops I've ever been to. The place is extremely clean and everyone their takes their jobs very seriously. Okay... they have a ton of fun and goof off sometimes, but when it comes to tattoo talk, they're 100% focused. I have no doubt in my mind that when I go in there I'm going to get a great looking tattoo done by top notch dudes using completely sterilized equipment.
I've had two tiny tattoos done by sir Bill Smiles himself. Love that guy. One was when they did their Bad Luck Broken Hearts day on Friday, Feb. 13th. They offered $13 tattoos with themes of bad luck and broken hearts since it was Friday the 13th and the day before Valentine's. They had a great turn out and did some great work, even when they were working aaaaall day. Like for real, hours of constant tattooing. These guys love what they do and it shows. Shortly after that I came back to have Bill do another one on me. And at that time, he put a halo behind one of my other tattoos that he did. It made it look so much better.
I trust this shop 100%. I'll be coming back soon to get more work done!
The husband and i choose family tattoo after a review of all the tattoo parlours in chicago on yelp. Being our very first tattoo we were apprehensive but Matt immediately put us at ease. He sketched up something based on some ideas that we had ,and it looked great on paper as well as on skin. The process itself was as close to painless and took 3 hours including selecting the design and getting it done...and the result was excellent! I went for a small one but the husband had an abstract one on his arm....Matt is a great artist and very professional....will definitely go again for our next one!
Review Source:Bill Smiles is the best dude in town.
After getting three pieces of varying, but overwhelmingly mediocre, quality from Tatu Tattoo, I hit up Yelp and saw some pretty good comments about Family Tattoo. It's just a bus ride away from my favorite El stop (Belmont Red Line, represent!), so I decided to take a chance. Bill is now my go-to artist for every piece I will ever get while in the Chicago area, and I will continue to namedrop him at every single person who comments on my tattoos.
The first piece he did for me is a simple line drawing of a theobromine molecule. It's in an awkward space - right between my lady-humps - but he was polite, professional, and did a stunning job for working on such, um, uneven terrain. He also told me I handled the pain really well, which is always good to hear after having a needle shoved into your chest for half an hour. :)
The second piece is fairly large, and covers over half my forearm; when I gave him the concept - bird in cage plus line of text from King Lear - he looked at it, looked at my arm, and said, "Well, it's gonna be kind of tricky to get the cage distinct, you've got a tiny arm." Me: "Eh, the cage isn't necessary, the bird is the important deal." Bill: "No, the cage is a really cool idea! I'm gonna figure something out!"
And sure enough, he did, and it's the best tattoo I have. The colors are bright and work well together, the lines are straight and crisp, and he did a careful, thorough job. He's always friendly and positive about whatever I'm getting done. He also offers free touch-ups for a month post-tattoo, which is awesome, although I've been too absentminded to take him up on it either time (though the molecule doesn't even need it, and the wrist piece needs only minimal detail work.)
I have to shut myself up now, or I will rave about this guy forever.
Dear Frank. Â You are my hero. Â Love, Martha.
I scavengered the city over the past two weeks trying to find someone to "fix" a tattoo I got at Jade Dragon about a year ago. Â I found plenty of people willing to re-do the tattoo but not until I got to Family Tattoo did I find someone who actually seemed to understand how important it was to me to have it fixed. Â Frank was my guy.
The tattoo I had was supposed to be a pretty orange flower half on my ankle and half on the top and side of my foot. Â Instead it looked like Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Â Frank turned Meatwad into a beautiful hyacinth that I love to look at and show off.
Not only is the flower beautiful, the whole process was relatively painless! Â The first round of the tattoo at Jade Dragon was the most painful experience of my life. Â Not exagerating. Â Apparently the guy who did it actually made HOLES in my foot. Â I was in serious pain for over a week and it took about six months to heal. Â I still have scar tissue from the experience. Â Frank however, magician that he is, managed to get through the thing with very little pain (relatively) and NO PAIN since! Â It is healing beautifully, doesn't hurt and isn't all gross and scabby.
Not to mention the price was stellar as well. Â And he touched up two other tattoos for no charge.
Never will I go anywhere again for a tattoo. Â Never ever ever.
So thanks.
I know plenty of friends who have been tattooed by Bill Smiles, so I was eager to let him attack an existing tattoo that needed a bit more "oomph!" Â
Not only is Bill Smiles incredibly talented, but he's friendly and professional as well. Â
The shop is clean and all of the fellas are really nice. Â
Go see Bill. Â Tell him "my friend likes you."
Walked in one day without an appointment, but was helped pretty quickly. Brought an idea of what font I wanted, but was drawn something even better! Bill Smiles is a good man, and great tattoo artist, and I recommend him to anyone considering a new tattoo. The whole shop is very comfortable and they have the best prices in town. I'm pretty much just going to be a Family girl from now on :)
Review Source:Family Tattoo is the best-run shop I've ever been to. Â All the guys working there are friendly and attentive, and Bill was ready for me on time. Â He drew up custom work for me that far exceeded my imagination, and finished the piece in record time for much less money than I expected.
I'll definitely be back!
Who else came in for the $13 tattoos on Friday the 13th extravaganza?
I know I did!
Bill Smiles hooked me up with a classic toaster on my ankle that has two slices of bread popping out, one with a 1 and one with a 3.
I don't think they're doing the $13 deal this upcoming Friday the 13th, but I don't care. I am returning for another unlucky household appliance next to it. I'm thinking hair dryer on fire?
Thanks again, Bill!
I got an custom tattoo done by Frank about 2 years ago and I'll never go anywhere else. Frank went over what I wanted until it was perfect and I paid less than I would for flash art at another studio. The guys at the shop made me feel completely at ease and the time flew by. This was my 5th and my favorite one so far. I will always go for the rest of my work and refer as many people as I can who are looking to get some ink.
Review Source:I came to Family Tattoo for my first tattoo at a friend's suggestion. Â Bill Smiles was friendly and very professional. Â He took a little extra time to go over the process with me and make sure I was comfortable at all times. Â I couldn't be happier with my tattoo, and I will be going back to Bill for my next piece.
Review Source:Bill rocks my socks--really really awesome work that didn't make me broke. Â I went in with references that weren't quite what I wanted, but I couldn't quite picture what I wanted either. I was nervous about what he'd come up with (since I'd never trusted before trusted anyone to do anything 'custom'), but they were so much better than I had ever thought.
I would (and will) go back.
I have had tattoos done by a couple different artists throughout the city... Â Lee at Family Tattoo is without any question one of the best I have ever stumbled upon.
Here is the real deal... Not only are Lee, Frank, and Bill all cool guys who are willing to talk with you (even if they are knee deep in intense video game time). They also discuss ideas with each other to make it the best possible artwork they can. My tattoo situation was different because I was in the market for not just any old tattoo, but a tattoo that covered up an old piece of work that I no longer felt comfortable having. This is a strange situation to be in, as covering up old artwork can get a little overwhelming, as well as crazy expensive.
Lee is fantastic. He was straight up with me about what would work, yet was totally honest if something would not. Trying to cover up a decent sized heavy black tattoo is nothing to scoff at. This is by no means an easy job, and Lee went above and beyond. My cover-up tattoo is without any question my most complimented and asked about piece of artwork.
My arm looks rad, and I didn't go broke getting it done. Lee was willing to take his time and scheduled a number of appointments with me to make sure my arm was healing nicely between sessions.
Don't be scared! These boys are willing to put in the time and care to do it right. They aren't warm and fuzzy, but they know how to make your skin look cooler than you ever thought possible.
No better place to get a tattoo in Chicago. Simply put.
A precaution -- for those of you who watch L.A. or Miami Ink and expect a vibrant and state-of-the-art tattooing facility, you'll probably be disappointed. Family Tattoo is situated in a nondescript brick two flat right on Belmont. In fact, I walked past it two times before realizing where it was.
But that's what makes this place great! They don't have attitudes. They're not going to hassle you if you want them to modify your tattoo a little after drawing. You don't need to call two weeks in advance for a session. And they're not going to charge you $150 for tattooing two words, a la Chicago Tattooing and Piercing Co.
Plus, they're completely sanitary, the place is clean, and Bill, who did my most recent tat, did a fantastic job and was extremely personable.
Simple put, if you want the "TLC" experience, go to CTPC. But if you want a fantastic tattoo at a great price and good company, go here!
If you wan
my experience at family tattoo was great! Â it's a little hard to spot the place because there's a bunch of trees blocking the name but it's just a bit east of clybourn right across the street from a Chi-town Dog House or something.
my friend and i walked in without appointments and showed them exactly what we wanted. Â they asked how big/placement and gave us a quote right away. no bs and no hidden charges! Â all the guys there were super professional and relaxed and considering this was my first tattoo, that was really important. Â i avoided other yelp tattoo places if i ever read anything about "attitude". Â
i decided to come here from the other yelp reviews so i never went to checked out other places. Â my friend however had been delaying his tattoo for the last five years so he mentioned this was one of the cleanest places he's seen. Â the walls were smothered in artwork to choose from so feel free to drop by and find one you like. Â my friend and i knew exactly what we wanted though so we brought in our own artwork. (they can blow it up or shrink it for you if need be)
Lee did both of our tattoos and we're both really happy with them. Â He didn't mind moving my friends tattoo around a little bit until we were sure of where we wanted it. Â And he always asked how i was doing while he was tattooing me.
all in all. i was very happy with my experience. Â i will definitely recommend this place to anyone!
NOTE: for any tattoo, i recommend researching EVERYTHING beforehand. I came in with my artwork printed to the exact size I wanted. it had extremely personal meaning to me and I refused to have any screw-ups... if your tattoo means a lot to you, have it printed and ready to go when you come
I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing experience I've had at Family Tattoo.
Not only are these guys amazingly talented (Bill has done two of my tattoos, the first person I've ever trusted in getting anything large and visible), but they are friendly, funny and professional all at the same time.
The space is also very clean, which is one of the most important things to me.
In such a market, with dozens of tattoo shops that have been open for such extensive periods of time and have built up such venerable reputations, it seems surprising that a new place could pop up and really have a shot at becoming a powerhouse, but that's Family Tattoo to me. I think anyone that walks in the door will see that.
I recommend this place to any of my friends, and any of my customers, and anyone who happens to pass by this review.
Go in!
They're just fantastic.
Bill has inked me as well as my girlfriend and did a great job on both tattoos. Â I'll definitely be going back soon for more.
I've gotten tattoos elsewhere and by far, Family tattoo was the best experience. Â Absolutely no attitude, no B.S. and you don't feel like the artists are doing you a favor by letting you sit in their chair. Â
It's clean, the dudes who work there are friendly the work is consistently excellent. Â I'll most likely be taking my stimulus check there.
Clean, affordable shop in Roscoe Village. 2 veterans and 1 young hungry superstar make up the staff at this new, successful enterprise.
Tattoo parlors are becoming the new barber shop, the center of the community and the place where folks can catch up on all the saucy gossip and good olde time folksy wisdom.
Pull up a chair, take in the ambience and get an attractive, clean, professionally done tattoo while you're at it.
Family Tattoo is a good  place to get inked. The guys here are good at what they do and the prices are very reasonable. I get my work done by Frank (not me), and he has a super steady hand, very professional with excellent "bedside manner". He has inked me more three times and each time the healing was easy and painless with minimal peeling and retouching needed. My buddies have been inked by the owner Lee and another artist... Bill Smiles. The work they do is awesome and the colors seem to stay super bright. I've seen some shitty work from other places and even had some shitty work that was covered at Family Tattoo and now you can't even tell it was ever there. I highly recommend Family Tattoo. Don't forget to tip... it's a good show of appreciation for a job well done.
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