Since Gassy Jack first landed on Vancouver Harbour’s south shore and put Gastown on the map, the neighbourhood has served as a destination for legendary artists and tattooers, the go-to spot where sailors came ashore to have their anchors inked. For this very reason, Mitch Kirilo chose the neighbourhood as the location for Gastown Tattoo Parlour, paying homage to the pioneers of an industry, preserving tattoo culture in it’s first Vancouver home.
“Back then you could get a tattoo for $5, and the artists were often broke, but for me, it’s never been about the money,” he explains. “It’s about respecting the trade and creating a tattoo that lasts a lifetime.”
Quality work and professionalism is important to Kirilo, evident in the sanitation practices the shop upholds with a dedicated staff hired just for cleaning. This enables his nine full-time artists, each handpicked to create a varied menu of tattoo styles, to focus on their creativity.
A revolving door of guest artists means Gastown Tattoo’s staff is constantly evolving, learning new techniques from tattooers all over the world.
And, if removal is more your thing, Kirilo’s business partner Ed Miller runs sister company Vancouver Tattoo Removal out of the same historic building on West Cordova. They saw an opportunity to provide a good alternative to laser clinics who may go a bit deeper than necessary in their efforts to remove a piece.
“This way we can work with our client to merely lighten lines in order to design a cover-up,” Kirilo says.
Whatever you’ve got in mind, mark your calendar accordingly – Kirilo’s wait list is currently booking in late November. Unless of course, you want one of those tiny anchors, drop by on a Saturday when Kirilo and his crew will welcome walk-ins throughout the summer.
• 105 West Cordova St. | 604-642-6556 | GastownTattoo.com
