When Romie de Hillary and her husband James took over Seattle Tattoo Emporium in 2017, they committed to two things: preserving the shop’s historic legacy and ensuring it is a welcoming place for everyone.
“Personally, when I went to get my first tattoos, it was pretty scary. It was all male tattoo artists and I was intimidated. When we took over the shop, I wanted to make sure that everybody felt comfortable coming in the doors,” de Hillary said.
To create a safe and welcoming space, de Hillary took steps to make the shop in Capitol Hill more accessible. Changes include making the restroom wheelchair accessible and hiring diverse tattoo artists so everyone feels welcome.
When de Hillary noticed the sidewalk outside was dark and not providing an environment that felt safe, she applied for our Tenant Improvement Program’s sign package to purchase a bright sign for the front of the shop. As part of our work to lead projects and make investments that opens up access to economic opportunities, our TI Program offers forgivable loans to small businesses looking to upgrade their signage or equipment. The funding makes it more affordable for these entrepreneurs to purchase necessary upgrades, allowing them to focus on growing and stabilizing their business.
“This grant really helped in a time where business has gone down and allowed us to make some really solid improvements to the business,” said de Hillary. “We’re seeing people choosing to walk down our side of the street because it’s bright and lit up. We’re also seeing the marketing benefits as well.”
Inclusion is rooted in Seattle Tattoo Emporium’s long history. Originally named Seattle Tattoo, Clarence J. Danny Danzel started the business in 1941. He rebranded it to Seattle Tattoo Emporium in the 1950s. The use of “emporium” in the name was intentional; he was telling the world the shop can handle any kind of work, no matter the style or the client.
Now one of the oldest operating tattoo shops in the United States, Seattle Tattoo Emporium moved several times before landing at its current home on Boren Avenue in 1999. It houses a “history of tattooing” exhibit showcasing the shop’s history and famous tattoo artists and the works they created while in Seattle. de Hillary says they want to make sure the shop and its history stay in Capitol Hill.
“It’s important to either document and keep these places alive and going,” she said. “It would be really sad if it went away after all this time. So, we do our best to just make sure it remains a Seattle landmark.”
Seattle Tattoo Emporium’s history makes it a destination for people beyond Seattle. de Hillary says people hear about the shop online or while visiting and stop by. They run flash specials for holidays like Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day, where artists come up with special drawings for one day only. They offer merchandise for visitors and clients alike. No matter who walks through the doors, de Hillary says they are welcome.
“We welcome anybody into the shop whether they want a tattoo or not. If they just want to take a look around at the art from local artists and from tattooing legends,” she said. “We’d love for anyone to come in, show them the shop, and share the history.”
Applications for our Tenant Improvement Program are open through Monday, April 13 at 5 p.m. This program offers financial support for local businesses looking to upgrade their spaces. There are two packages available in 2026: the sign package award of up to $15,000 and the equipment package award of up to $50,000. To date, we awarded 120 businesses with forgivable loans through the TI Program.
Read about the TI Program’s application requirements on our website and apply today.