No.

The artists at Citadel primarily or exclusively work by appointment. However, short notice, day-of appointments, and walk-ins are always a possibility depending on availability. We always will encourage you to message or call the shop ahead of time to check if it will be possible and if anyone is at the shop. As well, we try to post on our social media when there is walk-in availability for that day, so be sure to follow us on Instagram @citadel_tattoo.

Our artists work primarily by appointment, so we do not keep standard hours. If you are planning on stopping by for a walk-in, consultation, or just to say hi we encourage you to message or call ahead.

It is best to contact the artist you'd like to work with directly, either via e-mail, phone or Instagram. Each tattooer maintains their own calendar and their availability can vary.

Again, it depends on the artist and how busy they are at that specific time. In general though, it could be 1 to 3 weeks, depending on what you want and who you want to be tattooed by.

Our shop minimum is $100, and all the artists charge a standard $150/hour, with the exception of Morgan, who charges $175/hour. We are happy to price out specific designs for you, though these are often only approximate, as final cost depends largely on final size and placement of the tattoo. If you'd like a final price for a tattoo, we encourage you to set up an in-person consultation with the artist you'd like to work with. Of note, we only charge for actual tattooing time – there is no charge for consultation, drawing, prep, etc.

Short answer, yes. Long answer, like all artists we have the preferred styles that come most naturally to us, and try to represent them most in our portfolios. That being said, we will happily tackle anything that we feel confident we will execute well. If you're looking for something that may fall outside of what we are comfortable with, we will happily refer you to other artists/shops in the Twin Cities area that specialize in that style. As always, get in touch with your questions and we'll start there.

Absolutely. The majority of the work we do is custom designed for our clients and is considered just part of the process for us. That being said, we are also happy to do “flash” designs, or things that are pre-drawn (whether by us or not). If that's more your style, we have lots of flash hanging on the walls of the shop, pre-drawn design books, and a “Get What You Get” gumball machine if you'd like to add some spontaneity to your life.

All people and areas have different pain thresholds, so it's impossible to say how bad something will hurt. But generally, yes, all tattoos hurt. If you are interested in using numbing cream to make the experience a little more comfortable, please let your artist know before hand. We are happy to accommodate the use of numbing cream, but want to manage your expectations of using it – there is a right way and a wrong way to use lidocaine creams. As well, many numbing creams contain ingredients not appropriate for the tattoo process (such as epinephrine). If you are planning on using a particular brand, ask your artist about it before buying.

No. Part of our consent and waiver form which all clients must complete before every tattoo specifically stipulates that you cannot be under the influence to give proper consent to the tattoo. Additionally, alcohol thins the blood, which increases the likelihood and frequency of bleeding during the tattoo – this ultimately will negatively affect how the tattoo will look and heal. We recommend just getting “high on life”.

On the day of your appointment please arrive well rested, hygienic, and eat before hand. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing, and something appropriate for the area to be tattooed (example: for a leg tattoo, you should wear or bring shorts). If you're not sure what to wear for your tattoo, just ask your artist. Make sure you have communicated your thoughts and specifics on your design with your tattooer, and you are happy with it. You are more than welcome to bring items that may make the experience better for you – such as headphones to listen to, or a specific blanket or pillow you prefer.

Yes absolutely. As a group we may be chatty by nature, but want everyone to have a comfortable experience while in our shop. If chatting isn't your thing, just let us know. We recommend popping in some headphones to drown out the shop noise.

There is ample street parking on Johnson Street, and it's usually not hard to find a spot close by. As well, there is a free parking lot just north and across the street for all of the merchants in the 29th and Johnson area. After your appointment, if you'd like someone to walk you back to your car, just ask!