James River Tattoo

I cannot say enough great things about this shop!! They are very welcoming and the first thing they make sure of, is that you’re comfortable. I see Matt (the owner) for all my tattoos, I’ve been going to him for 14+ years, and I followed him to his new shop! He has done beautiful work for me for years and has a very gentle hand with tattooing. He’s very good at paying attention when you’re in pain, to give you breaks. He’s super quick and is very affordable! He’s a super laid back dude and his whole shop is awesome! His piercer, Amber is very sweet and painless! His other tattooer, Melon is also very personable and very friendly! This whole shop is just amazing, and if you haven’t tried them out, you’re crazy! It’s always a great experience here and amazing vibes! 1000000/10 is definitely recommend!

I’ve been getting tattooed by Matt for years, and was thrilled when he opened up his own shop a year ago. I came in recently to get a travel tattoo to add to the leg piece we’ve been working on for a while and Matt absolutely hit the design out of the park. I love it. The shop is clean and I would highly recommend visiting Matt or Melon for your next tattoo!

I had a great experience with Melon from start to finish. I emailed the shop with my tattoo idea and received a response almost immediately. Booking an appointment through their website was quick and easy. When I arrived, I immediately noticed how open, clean, and welcoming the shop was. Melon had already prepared several design concepts based on my idea, and he was great to work with as we refined the final design together. I wanted the name “Shannon” in Old English lettering filled with waves inspired by The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and he absolutely nailed the concept. Melon took his time to make sure the placement on my forearm was perfect. Throughout the tattoo, he was professional, meticulous, and paid close attention to every detail. He checked in with me often, offered breaks when needed, and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. When the tattoo was finished, it was obvious he took pride in his work—and he had every reason to. The finished piece exceeded my expectations. I let him take a few photos so he could show his mom. Before I left, we even talked about ideas for my next tattoo, and he was excited to help bring that one to life as well. I highly recommend Melon to anyone looking for a talented artist who truly cares about both the process and the final result. I’ll definitely be back.

I want to thank Matt for doing my tattoos. They are everything and more to me. You brought my vision to life on the start of my sleeve. You and your staff are kind and friendly.... your establishment atmosphere is so welcoming and comfortable. Looking forward to more sessions to complete my sleeve......

I’ve been getting tattooed by Matt Williams for years, long before he opened his own shop, and following him here was an easy decision. He’s always friendly, professional, and makes the whole experience comfortable from start to finish. The shop itself is super clean and has a great atmosphere. You can tell he really cares about his work and his clients. I’ve always trusted him with my tattoos and I’m so happy to see him doing his own thing now. Highly recommend checking this shop out!