Greeted by a set of stairs off the shop’s street-level entrance lies the skylight-lit loft which houses State Street’s newest business, Newtype Tattoo. Led by tattoo artist Thomas Abrams — who has amassed close to 80,000 followers on Instagram — Newtype first opened its doors April 27, and specializes in bright, colorful cartoon and comic-style tattoos.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Abrams said he believes the specialized tattoo style Newtype produces sets it apart from other tattoo shops in the city.
“A lot of tattoo shops are more open and varied and do many different styles, this is the opposite,” Abrams said. “We do one style, and it’s pop culture, video game, anime, which is huge, bright, bold, colorful — and that’s the theme of the shop.”
Tattoo chairs line the room, and numerous posters from different animated franchises cover the walls. Abrams said one of the most rewarding aspects of his work is seeing how significant different characters are to his clients.
“I have a guy right now who’s flying in from Orlando,” Abrams said. “This is a 40-year-old man. I’m doing characters on him that he grew up drawing in his notebook, and it sounds goofy — and people think that’s childish — but that’s amazing. It’s amazing that I’m gonna draw this cartoon on you, of a character you loved when you were 10 years old.”
Ann Arbor is home to a lively arts scene — enriched by local tattoo artists and shops. In an email to The Daily, Art & Design rising sophomore Nora Hagan wrote tattoo shops such as Newtype provide a unique method for community building through creative expression.
“There are many benefits to a creative space like Newtype Tattoo, with the main one being the opportunity to build community through this business,” Hagan wrote. “Tattoos, in particular, offer a common ground for people to share their creative interests. Having a creative space so close to a large college campus ensures a steady flow of visitors, which helps grow and sustain this community.”
Local businesses have continued to face challenges in the city, from housing developments and high rent prices. In an email to The Daily, Dana Forrester, owner of Lucky Monkey Tattoo Parlor, expressed excitement towards new creative businesses opening in the downtown area, despite construction obstacles and the rising cost of living.
“Ann Arbor has always been a hub for high caliber tattoo artists, bombastic musicians and innovators,” Forrester wrote. “Adding an artist based business downtown is refreshing. Ann Arbor has become so expensive (rents are sky high and parking is a challenge) that it is rare for a new ‘mom and pop’ business to open downtown. Even corporate franchises have struggled with these costs in Ann Arbor–so I wish the new shop the best of luck.”
Abrams said he plans on hiring more artists, and one of his main goals for the shop is to become a staple in Ann Arbor’s local business scene.
“I’m still hiring artists because I’m very picky, I’m very specific on who I want working with me,” Abrams said. “I want to have a popular, known downtown establishment. I want Newtype to be — when people are walking downtown — just one of those names that rolls off the tongue.”
Daily Staff Reporter Micayla Horwitz can be reached at hmicayla@umich.edu.
