New tattoo shop opens on edge of Crystal Lake

CRYSTAL LAKE – The owner of a new tattoo shop is looking to capitalize on growing demand in the area for body art and a reputation for quality work that he's built over the past five years.

Monster Ink Tattoo & Piercing Studio opened Tuesday at 1520 Carlemont Drive, Unit D, in Crystal Lake, just off Randall Road. The debut comes about six months after the Crystal Lake City Council granted owner Taylor Kuhlman a special use permit to open the business.

Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning commissioners heard in April from neighboring business owners who thought a tattoo shop might leave a bad impression on their customers, but the commission recommended approval with a 6-0 vote. The City Council then voted unanimously in May to grant the permit.

Kuhlman hasn’t heard from any naysayers.

“Everyone that has come across me, whether it’s going out to the mailbox or when I’m working on getting the shop ready, has been pretty receptive,” Kuhlman said. “We’ve had several local businesses come in, not necessarily the owners, but people who work for them have come in, and they’re super-interested.”

The new shop, with an interior color theme of purple, gray and black, has some of the team’s past work on the walls. The exterior is visible from Randall at night with its LED sign on the storefront.

“This isn’t the typical tattoo shop with that big ‘tattoo’ sign out front,” Kuhlman’s wife, Brenna Kuhlman, said.

Brenna spoke at the city meetings in an attempt to silence the stereotypes others were hinting at.

“We wanted to break that stigma of ‘gangbangers and bikers,’ ” Brenna said of designing and marketing the shop. “It’s an art form, and anyone who has stopped in is amazed.”

Taylor wanted to open his own shop to choose who he’s surrounded by and who is on his staff, calling them “people who inspire me.” His staff of eight includes himself, his wife, three other artists, a piercer and two apprentices.

Taylor also wants to travel to tattoo conventions, grow the brand and the industry.

“Working for yourself enables you to do those types of things,” said Taylor, who is booked out for the next two months.

He worked for the past few years at Area 51 Tattoo in downtown Crystal Lake, a business established in 2002. There's definitely room in the marketplace, Taylor said, especially being at the south end of town.

"Our shop is on the cusp of Lake in the Hills, which doesn't have any shops that I'm aware of," he said. "Algonquin is limited, too."

Monster Ink Tattoo & Piercing Studio is open from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.