April 24, 2017

Meet Nickolas Maiella of Royal Flesh Tattoo and Piercing in Buena Park

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nickolas Maiella.

Nickolas, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I opened Royal Flesh Tattoo and Piercing to the public May 15, 2009. It all started with a super late night after the bars closed in Chicago Winter, 2008. Talking about opening some kind of business and doing something different than going out till 4 and 5 in the morning, more than a few days a week.

The tattoo shop idea came up along with Laundry mat, cell phone store, social club, bar or nightclub, pedicab. I come from a photo and video background and want to so something in business that was artistic minded. So Royal Flesh Tattoo was conceived. Originally, I first had a partner who was going to be in 50/50.

Neither of us tattooed or pierced. Our plan was to find a couple of tattoo artist and a piercer and start out small. A couple of tattoo stations and a piercing room. How hard can that be. We first needed to secure a spot. I had a friend who had a building that had an empty store front. Located on the corner of Broadway and Irving Park. A few blocks from Wrigley Field. It sounded promising. The place was a former Mexican seafood restaurant Playa Azul. The place was in shambles and needed a lot of work.

More than our budget was going to afford. After serious negotiations. We were able to secure our spot and starting building Royal Flesh tattoo. Or better yet demolition and reconstruction. My partner was pretty handy and we hired a close friend of mine Tom Ringstad who was our general contractor and got to work on the shop. Long story short and many sleepless nights and 2 failed partnerships. It almost fell apart before I could get Royal Flesh off the ground. I had so much of my time and money invested I decided to do it on my own. 8 years later here we are. Royal Flesh Tattoo and Piercing.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was a very bumpy road. I had many different artists pass thru here. Extremely talented tattooers and piercers. And some who really shouldn’t have been tattooing or piercing in a professional environment. I really wasn’t too picky picking artists to join our team in the beginning. I didn’t know anything about tattoos before I got into this. I learned about the business as I went along, from each of the artists I had a chance to work with. From employee theft to physical fights, heated arguments, opening during a recession, Artists hating on other artists tattoos. Drama, Lots of drama. Not what I was expecting.

Royal Flesh Tattoo and Piercing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Royal Flesh Tattoo and Piercing is a Tattoo and Piercing Service with body jewelry and attached Art Gallery.

Our mission statement:
We aren’t your traditional type of tattoo and piercing shop. We are original on every level; our artwork, atmosphere, and attitude. Our mission is to provide our clients with services and modifications that are innovative, unique and custom, through specialized techniques to express their individuality, reclaim their body or beautify themselves. We pride ourselves in providing a clean and comfortable environment, while also maintaining a wide variety of artists and styles. We are intensely loyal to our clients and believe each client’s experience is unique and personal. Therefore, the specifics and details of each client’s modification are not only important to us but the basis of our quality work and open-minded attitude when providing them with personal fine art.

I am proud to offer a nice variety of tattoo styles to our clients. I am most proud of my team thus far.

Hard working artists doing what they love to do and providing for their families.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment of my career would probably be entering Royal Flesh Tattoo and Piercing’s 8th year in business. I feel a great sense of accomplishment to have built this business from scratch, a top notch tattoo and piercing studio in Chicago.

Also our great client reviews. https://business.google.com/b/103526557106817721206/reviews/l/05582141077075792158?hl=en

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