The Anchor’s End Tattoo and Body Piercing shop appears to be a classic tattoo and piercing shop with “Tattoo and Piercing” being the prominent signs on the building, but the inside is another story. Anchor’s End Tattoo and Body Piercing is located in the heart of Duluth at 122 W. First St.
When you walk into the building the bright orange, green and blue walls with black accents are immediately intimidating.
“It’s intimidating when you first walk in, but I’ll always go back there for my tattoos” said Danielle Dupuis, a long time customer of Anchor’s End.
The shop claims to be the best in Duluth for body piercings and tattoos. Their booked schedule is proof of that. They’re usually booked a week in advance, but because of tax refund season the waiting list is even a little longer. The shop is currently booked a week and a half out, according to Dustin Hyde, an apprentice at the shop.
There are two parts to the shop; a piercing side and a tattoo side.
The best time to get a tattoo depends on many factors; The season, tattoo artist, day, and what tattoo you are getting. On Saturday, the stores only “No appointment necessary” day, the store can be filled with appointments by noon.
“I had to go back for a couple sessions for mine,” Dupuis said referring to the vivaciously colored flower tattooed on the front of her shoulder. “But each time I was more excited to go back.”
Anchor’s End can either fill up because many people come in for smaller tattoos that may only take 20 minutes, or because several people come in and all want a “realistic” tattoo by the esteemed portrait artist Josh Garcia, who's known all over the state for his tattoo work. These detailed tattoos can take multiple hours, or even multiple sessions.
Dustin Hyde said that the reputation of Anchor’s End speaks for itself: “The quality of the artwork that comes out of here is above and beyond anywhere in the area.”
Part of the talent at the shop comes from the artists all constantly working off of each other. “We soak everything up,” said Hyde. “Everyone wants to be aware of what everyone is doing, so that we can learn from each other.”
Anchor’s End was purchased by tattoo artist, Joseph John, in 2003 from “Tatts by Zapp”. The tattoo shop merged with the piercing shop, 120 Piercing, next door last March by knocking down the wall that was separating the two shops.
Jeff Reeves is the primary piercer at the shop. He has worked as a piercer for seven years and estimates that he has done approximately 10,000 piercings.
In 2012, Anchor's End expanded its market to Hudson WI, with the opening of a second shop.
Hyde wants people to know the one thing that sets Anchor's End apart from other shops in Duluth is that they will never turn away a tattoo because an artist doesn’t want to do it. Hyde said that artists in other shops will sometimes do that if they don’t like the idea of a tattoo.
The artists at Anchor's End are filled with passion for what they do. They will tell you that all they want to do is make art. The art there isn’t just all over the walls. It’s all over their bodies. Hyde explained that the artists there want you to love the art on your body, as much as they love theirs.