Great Lakes Tattoo: Welcoming Chicago ink artists delivering high-quality tattoos—with patient service for walk-ins.
Great Lakes Tattoo is a Chicago body-art studio at 1148 W Grand Ave, known for friendly, quick walk-in tattoos and high-quality work. Reviews highlight kind, patient staff and skilled artists, including Kevin Leary, Beatdown, Erik, Brandon, and Danni. The shop offers tattoo preservation and displays historic flashes from early Chicago shops. Prices start around $100, and clients praise the welcoming atmosphere and clear communication.
1148 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
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Personalized tattoo artwork created collaboratively with our skilled artists to match your vision and style.
Quick, small tattoos available for spontaneous clients, with prices starting at $100 for simple designs.
Historical preservation of Chicago's tattoo legacy, featuring old flashes and artifacts on display in the shop.
Easy and convenient appointment scheduling through our website with clear communication throughout the process.
Supportive consultations for new clients, covering design, placement, and aftercare to ensure a comfortable experience.
Overall rating
Lauren Enriquez
My friends and I walked in on a Saturday afternoon looking to get some tiny tattoos. The guys at Great Lakes could not have been kinder or more patient with us. They were professional, quick, and we absolutely love our tattoos!! Prices start at $100 which seemed pretty fair to our knowledge. Cannot express enough how kind and patient they were and thirty minutes later we walked out with the cutest tiny tattoos!!
Kevin Urban
I got an incredible tattoo from Kevin Leary at Great Lakes Tattoo, and had the best experience! The shop was super inviting and well laid out, and everyone was very kind. This was my first tattoo, and Kevin designed an amazing piece based on all the references I emailed to the shop. He was also super helpful with letting me know what to expect and finding the perfect placement. Definitely coming back for my next one!
Mike Gelsinon
I had a fantastic experience with Great Lakes Tattoo and Kevin Leary! After researching shops and artists I went with Kevin to do my Black Sabbath tattoo. The online booking was easy and GLT had great communication throughout the process. Day of the tattoo, Kevin couldn't have been more welcoming and friendly. He absolutely knocked it out of the park with my idea & placement. I'm so happy and proud of my piece. The shop also does some cool Chicago tattoo preservation and hangs old flashes from the first tattoo shops in the city. I will definitely be back GLT!
Nova Lux
My friend and I were walk ins for some small tattoos for our last days of visiting Chicago. They got us in quickly, and were so kind and welcoming. We love the work that was done, and are glad to have little reminders of our time there. Thanks Matt and Chip. You guys are awesome. ♥️
John Ridings
Over the years I’ve been tattooed at GLT several times over by Beatdown, Erik, Brandon, and Danni - talented and awesome people. You can’t go wrong with anyone in the shop. Every tattoo I’ve received has been of the highest quality. No “regerts.” They are the Avengers of tattooing.
