“If someone were to walk in, we’d applaud them for being able to find it.” That’s how owner Chris Macdonald describes the location of his tattoo shop, Under My Thumb. Tucked discretely in an alleyway behind a music venue on the western edge of Little Portugal, Under My Thumb doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic. Instead they’ve built a dedicated clientele of discerning tattoo collectors through quality work, word-of-mouth and smart social media marketing.
Once inside, customers find themselves in a tattoo shop like no other. The interior is bright and warm with soft lights and wood accents, and Chris goes out of his way to make sure his clients feel relaxed and comfortable. Vintage leather chairs sit atop a bold Persian rug that defines the waiting area. Once seated, the client’s eyes are free to wander the black and white framed photographs, sketches and prints by the shop’s three artists, and the anatomical knick-knacks that occupy the tattoo parlour's little nooks and crannies that reveal themselves over time. The décor and layout of his shop is indicative of the attention to detail Chris gives to each of his tattoos.
