Black Label Collective creates a space of its own in West Duluth
DULUTH — Black Label Collective professional tattoo and piercing shop relocated to the Denfeld Retail Center of West Duluth on Sept. 24.
"Actually, it was the day that we got the 'Best of the Best' awards. That was the day that the license came in," said Ashley Minkkinen, co-owner and body piercing artist at Black Label Collective. "That was a pretty awesome day."
As the crew is settling into their new digs at 4602 Grand Ave. in Suite 940, the owners reflected on all they've overcome and accomplished, including an expanded team, a rebrand and earned accolades.
"We've only been open for three years, and we won both tattoo and the piercing awards," Minkkinen said, referring to the Duluth News Tribune's annual competition. "Then there was the community votes thing as well, which we won first place. It felt good."
A grand opening event is tentatively set for Friday, Nov. 1. Details will be shared on social media.
Minkkinen and fellow tattoo artists Alec Polling and Dick Davis opened as Black Label Tattoo and Piercing in Spirit Valley in June 2021, after working together at Absolute Body Art in West Duluth, citing the need for more space.
When their landlord, Richard Laumeer, sought to sell the building in which they started at 217 N. 59th Ave. W., Davis and Minkkinen decided to relocate and change the business name to Black Label Collective.
However, finding another spot that fit their needs in West Duluth was a challenge, according to the shop's co-owners.
"We looked for a while. I mean, it was a couple months," Minkkinen said. "We did see a bunch of places downtown, because that was pretty much what's available."
The stigma placed on tattoo shops prevented many property owners from wanting to sign Black Label as a tenant, Minkkinen said. Other properties wouldn't allow the removal of carpeting to fit the required Minnesota Department of Health code standards, or allow them to paint the walls to their artistic expression.
Eventually they came across the space most recently occupied by Profile by Sanford, a weight-loss company, within the Denfeld Center. With its ample shared parking, large lobby area, individual office spaces and a break room –it was the ideal space, Davis said.
The business entered into a seven-year lease on the Denfeld property with the Jones Group Duluth.
Being at the center offers an additional benefit to grow its customer base, Minkkinen said, due to the increased foot traffic exposure of the surrounding businesses.
Black Label's final day in its previous location was Sept. 21, and it began booking clients at the new spot four days later. All that remains is to install exterior signage.
"It's the same in square footage. It's just laid out way differently," said Minkkinen.
Each artist of Black Label's growing team has a private stall personalized to reflect their unique styles.
"Madie (Heine) is really great at fine-line tattoos, and really has a nice feminine touch to her art style," Davis described as he overlooked her studio room adorned with floral skulls, which give a mixture of bohemian-meets-gothic vibes.
Tattoo artist D'Morris Mackee crafts more of a neo-traditional style with bold designs from his more masculine-toned brown and blue studio room.
Next door is Davis, who categorizes himself as more of an illustrative-realism artist who also specializes in cover-up pieces. The textured walls of Davis' room give the feeling of entering a cave with gold and silver replicas of hieroglyphics from France — opposite more modern cultural symbols from "The Lord of the Rings" — merging both past and present.
"Ed (Kellner) is whimsical in the way he blends and works with colors," Minkkinen said of her colleague with two decades of experience.
Nicknamed "The Mad Tatter," Kellner's studio is a 3D illusion straight out of "Alice in Wonderland" with a large rabbit-hole mural adorned with faux plants and butterflies. The chairs offer funky-colored seating as the rope lights blink to the beat of the music.
An enthusiasm for anime can be seen in the black-and-red station belonging to Allison Cooley, who is nearing the end of her tattooing apprenticeship.
Body piercing apprentice Allan Johnson will soon begin his apprenticeship as a tattoo artist.
The team also includes Morgan Schoeder, the lead body-piercing artist who has been with the business since its inception. Schoeder and Minkkinen share a piercing space in the back of the shop with insect-inspired decor spanning to the ceiling.
"It's a fun energy to be around where it doesn't feel like a job," Davis said.
There's a new permanent guest space available for traveling artists such as Junjun Schilling from Ghost Dog Tattoo in Cloquet, and Body Modification Artist Steve Haworth . Previously they shut down the piercing side of the business to make room for guests.
"So many people here know other artists and shops around the country and in other countries," Minkkinen said. "We'll be utilizing that as a tool to expand our own experiences back to Duluth. Then to get more artists who are higher profile coming through."
Artists at Black Label will continue to expand their networks by attending conventions such as the upcoming Granite City Ink Fest in St. Cloud, as well as by traveling nationally and internationally to Scotland and London.
