Tattoo Shop

When Emily Rampp decided to become business partners with partner Keith Hieserich, they shared a vision for a tattoo parlor like no other in the Midwest—a place where people could watch the art of tattooing while enjoying coffee and conversation with others. Keith had owned a tattoo shop since 2003, and was known for his talents as an artist. Emily was the bookkeeper and brought her unique perspectives to the business, gleaned from 20 years of experience in bar and restaurant management. They knew that together they could make their dream a reality.

In May of 2011, Defiant Tattoo and Caffeine Bar opened the doors to its new home in the Lyndale-Lake neighborhood, and Emily got her chance to take the reins as business manager. The new position provided Emily with the opportunity to put her hospitality industry skills to good use; working with inspectors, securing permits, and ensuring that everything was up to code.

It was a lot of hard work, and not without its challenges, but the results have been worth it. The Caffeine Bar opened in October 2011 and offers fresh baked goods, smoothies and coffee drinks, including Jet Fuel, a hard-to-find espresso bean with twice the caffeine as regular beans.

The five full-time tattoo artists and several guest artists can barely keep up with the demand. Defiant Tattoo & Caffeine Bar has some of the best artist in the Twin Cities.

The patio and lounge areas are bustling many nights, as people come to mingle and watch the tattoo artists at work. The patio renovations will start in the spring of 2014, with big plans for an outdoor Koi ponds and a fire pit.http://www.linkedin.com/pub/emily-rampp/83/a7/493