One of the first times I found myself under a buzzing tattoo gun was at a Koolsville Tattoo. A friend and I decided nothing would solidify our friendship more than matching ink, and we were further intrigued by a sidewalk sign that simply read, “Tattoos $10.”
Koolsville has six Valley locations; the one we chose sits between two eclectic dive bars on Main Street, an ideal combination for spontaneity.
The process was quick and simple: We selected a design and handed over our IDs, consent forms and $10 apiece, and in less than 30 minutes we walked out with small UFO designs etched onto our ankles. And we weren’t the only two linked together by our alien encounter; to this day, I still bump into strangers with the exact same tattoo, an interesting side effect of a visit to the popular and affordable Koolsville.
On a recent return to the same Downtown location, I find the shop busy as always, a bustling crowd browsing the flash sheet and waiting for a turn under the needle.
One young woman asks if I’ve been tattooed here before—and, once I confirm that I have been, twice, actually—she and her friends ask to see the finished product. After nodding their approval, they continue planning their picks. “This is my first tattoo, but we’re in Vegas and I’m young, so why not?” reasons one from the pack, which has traveled from New York.
It has been 15 years since co-owning husband-wife team Robert and Mari Gonzalez launched the first Koolsville—the same Main Street spot where I got my spaceship and where I’m revisiting now—before expanding and opening five additional locations. Each shop shares the same pink and black paint job and matching decor—and they’re similarly busy. Robert pulls up live camera footage from a Koolsville on Las Vegas Boulevard to confirm the foot traffic.
So how has Koolsville become such a popular attraction for both visitors and locals? The $10 special—and its many resulting tattoos, promoted organically on social media—certainly hasn’t hurt.
“Ten dollars is still a lot of money, and we’re grateful for anyone who comes to us to spend it,” Mari says. “Everyone wants a tattoo and deserves something nice to feel better about themselves, so that’s why we do it.”
Robert and Mari are both experienced tattooists, but they’ve put their artistry on the back burner to manage their businesses. Their ethos is built from the heart:They chat affably with customers, they don’t charge for apprenticeships and they even offer discounted tattoos in exchange for charitable contributions.
Tattoos are only growing in popularity, and Koolsville remains ready to meet that demand. “It’s a blue-collar shop.” Robert says. “People ask us why we didn’t expand to the south of the Strip but if I did that, rent would be higher and the price of our tattoos would go up. We just want people to have a good time here.”
Koolsville Tattoo Six area locations, koolsvilletattoolv.com.
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