New Business: Menace Ink

It's probably raised a few eyebrows when the sign initially went up in the small storefront at the corner of Janesville Road and Parkland Drive: Tattoos.

However, Menace Ink is menacing in name only, and owner Dan Berczyk says he's committed to keeping it that way. The 36-year-old Muskego resident has opened the business in February, and said the response has been positive.

Berczyk has been in the business for eight years and told Muskego Patch, "art saved my life, literally. I had been into some bad stuff, but I'm hoping that this business and what I do as an artist is a way for me to give back to the community."

Hung behind the front desk are examples of the art forms he now focuses on along with ink, including sketches, caricatures and oil paintings. He is also a mural painter for those who are looking to express their individuality on something other than their own skin.

A self-admitted "trouble maker for 20 years," Berczyk said he's cleaned up his act, and has committed to making his studio just as clean. "There are other places that do tattoos and are also considered head shops, but we aren't that kind of place."

Berczyk is obviously eager to get involved in the community he grew up in and said he's made plans for Jammin on Janesville to offer airbrush tattoos and sponsoring a band to play during the festival. He said he welcomed other businesses to advertise at his shop, which resembles more of a hair cut place than the dark "parlors" of old, and a couple like Danny Haskell's and the Water Bugs have already taken him up on that.

Tattoos start at $40 and go up from there depending on size and colors. If you're in law enforcement or the military, he said it's no cost. "These guys have given so much to us, it's the least we can do," he explained.

The industry has changed its image over the past few years, and the age of customer that comes covers a wider range, and generally have specific interests in mind. However, Berczyk has counseled a few 18-year-olds as well who think having a tattoo on their hand is a good idea. "Not if you want a good job," he says, shaking his head. Others in the older age demographic are more... discriminating.

"People get tattoos today for more meaningful reasons than they used to, and we're seeing older customers come in as well," Berczyk explained. "Earlier this week a 65-year-old woman came in and got a tattoo of her grandchildren's names on her arm."

Menace Ink is open seven days every week from 12:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Click here to visit their website.