Olde Tyme Tattoo opens in Stockbridge

by Roberta Ludtke

For this young couple, tradition is very important. Even their logo, designed by Jeremy Utley, depicts an original style of tattoos.  The logo honors and memorializes Mellin’s mother, Lisa Dunikowski, who raised quarter horses.

Olde Tyme Tattoos, a new tattoo business steeped in tradition, is now open in downtown Stockbridge. Located between the Abbott and Fillmore Agency and Main Street Printing, the business is owned by Mikael Walack and Jessica Mellin.

For this young couple, tradition is very important. Even their logo, designed by Jeremy Utley, depicts original style tattoos.  The logo honors and memorializes Mellin’s mother, Lisa Dunikowski, who raised quarter horses.

Walack moved to Stockbridge two years ago to be with Mellin and her children. He soon felt this was the type of community he wanted for his business.

He always had an interest in art and wanted to make a living using his talents. According to Mellin, Walack’s mother said he got his start as an artist by drawing on her walls.

While tattooing goes back thousands of years, today the trade is more regulated.

Walack said he meets all the standards necessary by state and county governments to be registered as a body art facility. This includes training in blood borne pathogens, and being registered by the state as having safe medical procedures.

Walack and Mellin stressed that it is a difficult, expensive and time-consuming process, but necessary and worthwhile to ensure customer safety.

Nothing lets you know if it was a good or bad decision like a permanent ink tattoo, Mikael Walack said.

Another area where the couple is traditionalist is in their ethics. They inform their clients of the possible ramifications of their decisions and choices.

They inform their clients of the possible ramifications of their decisions and choices.

Nothing lets you know if it was a good or bad decision like a permanent ink tattoo, Walack said.

Often they have to educate their clients as to the size, location, color and skin types for the tattoos. He has no doubt talked many a young love out a decision they may have grown to regret, but he prides himself on giving his customers what they want.

Walack has been in the tattoo business for 12 years. He started as an apprentice for two years working at American Pride Tattoos in Milford, Mich., under the tutelage of “Big J.”  A self-proclaimed free spirit, Walack roamed the U.S. working in some of the country’s best tattoo parlors. He learned many different skills, but specializes in realism and portrait tattoos. Walack proudly displays the award for best black and gray portrait tattoo that he won at the Motor City Tattoo Expo, an international event.

Mellin is Walack’s life partner and runs the business side of Olde Tyme Tattoos. She schedules appointments, does the billing, and is the online media specialist. Together, with their traditional values, artistic talent, and professionalism, the couple seems to have the perfect plan for a successful business.