Dixon has its first tattoo shop, and it’s going great guns.

Raven Tattoo opened in early April at 109 S. Hennepin Ave.

Owner and artist Zack Martin, 29, of Dixon, has been tattooing for years, and opening his own shop is something he’s always wanted to do.

He’s always been into drawing, and when a buddy introduced him to tattooing, he knew he wanted to get some skin in the game.

“After the first tattoo, I was hooked – that was something that I had to do,” Martin said.

All of his tattoos are his own work, and he wants his shop to have a welcoming, clean and friendly environment.

“I just wanted to change the image of what people see when they walk into a tattoo shop,” Martin said, adding that everything he uses is 100 percent disposable, which greatly reduces any risk of cross contamination.

He chose the downtown location because the location was almost exactly what he was looking for, and he said he’s pleased his neighbors work together and support each other.

One example of that downtown teamwork: For a recent promotion, the shop partnered with fellow downtown business Books on First, which offered a free hot or iced latte to Raven Tattoo customers who stopped by the book shop to show off their tattoo.

“This downtown area is a great block; it’s got a lot of history down here,” Martin said.

Business has been so good that he recently hired a second artist, Mat Steder, and he’s booked 6 weeks out.

Even if money wasn’t a factor, he would still be tattooing because it’s his favorite thing to do, Martin said.

“It never ever feels like I have to go to work.”