Bridgeport Tattoo Co - Chicago, IL

Bridgeport Tattoo Co is located in the near South Side of Chicago just blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field in the aptly named Bridgeport Neighborhood.

We are a traditional tattoo studio for Chicago's working class in one of Chicago's oldest neighborhoods.

We do really good tattoos for nice people at reasonable and down to earth prices. You will not find better quality at a better price, anywhere in Chicago. We Promise. This is our life, this is what we do, tattoos are our passion.

Bridgeport Tattoo Co is the successful blend of several tattooists influence and dedication. But, it is much bigger then any one person, Bridgeport Tattoo Co represents a larger picture, a picture that encompasses the integrity of it’s industries founding fathers and the ground they broke to bring us here today. The current line up of tattooists are Blackjack, Justin Trey Boyle, and Devin "The Moustache" Cardosi. Each of these tattooists are capable of offering several styles and designs of tattooing that should fulfill your needs. The owner of Bridgeport Tattoo Co brings along his fabled and often exaggerated history which sets the tone of this eccentric business.

Blackjack, Bridgeport Tattoo Co owner and operator was born a bastard child in a seaport city in Florida, to a transient sailor in the Navy and a teenage mother, the year was 1972, his single young mother was in a downward spiral, and expecting a second son.

Just a couple years later, Blackjack would find himself orphaned in the City of Wind, Chicago. Without any parents of his own, he was awarded to the state of Illinois where he waited. Several years later, a newly married couple who were unable to have children, decided to snatch up the brothers. Blackjack found himself with another father from a military background, this time a Vietnam era soldier with the US Army. While in the service and traveling the globe, his adoptive father had gotten tattooed in foreign seaports. These early impressions would obviously influence a young Blackjack. At 16 he got his first tattoo, an exact replica of the one his adoptive father had on his arm that he had gotten in Okinawa.

In 1989, after having gotten several more tattoos, Blackjack enlisted in the US Army. Being a soldier in the Army, he often found himself attracted to the seedy underbelly of the off-base juke joints, strip clubs and tattoo parlors. Blackjack and his Army pals frequently hung out while getting tattooed until the wee hours of the morning.

In 1992, Blackjack became such fixture at a local studio he became more than just a regular. His teacher and mentor was a masterful wizard by the name of "Rocket" Richard Hincher. "Rocket Rick" as his friends called him, was taught to tattoo in the late 1960’s by William Kempe Jr, who was taught by Sailor Bill Killingsworth. Sailor Bill had roots in Chicago, which included tattooing on State Street in the 1930’s, until Illinois killed Chicago‘s then thriving tattoo industry by raising the minimum age from 18 to 21.

Blackjack’s linage counts 4th generation, but he continues to pass it on to his students, which make up the 5th generation of traditional tattooers. He learned to tattoo just before the modern age, back in a time when acetate stencils were used, and tattoos were limited to whatever hand colored flash was found on a shop’s walls. This was before personal copy machines made resizing tattoos an option and before the personal computers offered endless tattoo designs. While he now embraces technologies gifts such as email and up to date sterile procedures, Blackjack is still rooted in old-school values and history. The tradition of passing down these ideals and keeping them alive is woven into the soul of Bridgeport Tattoo Co.

From Blackjack’s early days in the US Army, to combat veteran of "Operation Restore Hope" in Mogadishu, Somalia, he is now a successful business owner as well a proud father of 6. He continues to wear several hats in many capacities and does so with love, respect and values his life thus far has taught him. Opening for business on March 7th, 2007 Bridgeport Tattoo Co strives for perfection every day, every customer.

Daisy Marie

We adhere to the highest hygienic standards and practices, ensuring a safe and proper procedure. Everyone that works at Bridgeport Tattoo Co are educated and certified in the most up to date aseptic procedures currently available. Our autoclave is up to date on it's spore testing to ensure proper sterilization and all tattoo equipment is single service and disposable. We encourage our customers to shop around, look at other stores. This is no gimmick, we want to be the best.

Bridgeport Tattoo Co tattooing is a lifestyle and a craft that we hold very close to our heart. We will help find or design what you are looking for. We'd love to meet you and help you in any way with your next tattoo!

Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are available for those busier times.

Let us work with your budget and help you get exactly what you want.