Empire Tattoo

Went in for a walk in today while in Asheville. I could not be more pleased with the whole process. We are greeted by Jordan as soon as we walked in and she had time immediately to do my tattoo. Her energy was incredible. She was welcoming and kind to me and my girlfriend. I felt immediately at ease and comfortable. And the tattoo…is frickin incredible!!! So stoked to have this tattoo done by this artist at this shop while visiting. Go see Jordan! She is awesome !!! Thanks for the memories :)

Lauren was super kind and fun to talk to while she worked on my tattoo. It turned out amazing. I don’t remember the name but the guy working the front desk was also really kind and nice to talk to while I waited (I got there a bit early). Highly recommend!

My friends and I were visiting Asheville and wanted last-minute tattoos. Empire did great with walk-ins. We had four people who wanted different tattoos in different areas. Staff were friendly, professional and knowledgeable. We were able to call ahead to make sure they had artists available for our tattoos. Devin was my artist and he was responsive to my design preferences and made great recommendations on placement and structure to ensure my tattoo lasts. Highly recommend this crew if you’re looking for a tattoo shop in the area.

Greg did my nipple piercing! He was so very professional, made me feel very safe and comfortable, and made us laugh. He educated me on the piercing/aftercare and the set up was very clean. Will definitely be coming back!!!! Thanks everyone!

My wife and I each got a tattoo here (her first) and the team took great care of us. Very timely for walk ins. The front was so friendly and warm. The artists, Zeke and Devin were both phenomenal. We are more than happy with the results. Highly recommend if looking for a tattoo in Asheville.

Greg and the other folks at Empire treated me with lots of kindness, professional service, and good info, when I walked in needing time sensitive help figuring out spacers for my nose piercings (for a new job that wont let me wear my piercings). Theyve been around in Asheville a long time, and I can see why. Thanks yall!

I had Greg pierce my cartilage two weeks ago and he was so kind! I felt safe the entire time and heard when picking the perfect placement. I didn’t have an appointment and just called before walking in and they took immediate care of me! I was in and out and my piercing is healing up well. What else could you ask for? Overall great experience. I’d totally recommend Greg but just from talking to the other people working there I could tell their entire staff is great. I would totally come back next time I’m in town!

I got my septum pierced two days ago, and yesterday one of the balls on the end of my horse shoe ring fell off. I was devastated because I was so excited to show all of my friends, and no replacement ball would get here in time. We called Empire and the man that picked up (I’m so sorry I didn’t get his name) told us we could come by real quick and pick them up. He said he’d tape them to the door because they’re closing soon and he wouldn’t charge us anything. I’m so so grateful for his generosity, seriously a life saver.

I took my teen daughter to Empire today to get the nose piercing she’s been begging for. She was excited and anxious. Greg was exceptional. He was very friendly, talked as he worked and made her feel very at ease. 100% wonderful experience all around.

Awesome place! Great vibe and they got me in same day/ walk-in which was super cool. Sebastian absolutely killed it on my Misfits skull tattoo! He has amazing tattooing skills and a great personality. Thanks Empire Tattoo! I will be back! Highly recommend!

I stopped in for a new nose ring to go in my existing piercing today on a daytrip to Asheville. Not only is ALL of their jewelry high-quality metal and backings, the service when letting me look and decide was excellent. The shop was in between clients when I came in and Greg was able to change my nose jewelry for me; it was absolutely my best piercing experience and when I actually get another piercing instead of just changing jewelry, I WILL be driving the 1.25 hours to come back to Empire Tattoo. Impeccable service, impeccable selection. Six stars.

Lauren did an amazing job on my tattoo! I came in for a walk in visit and was so glad they could fit me in. It is healing up beautifully and now I am noticing even more details in my tattoo that I didnt before. This is now my favorite tattoo. I love it so much and cant wait to come back for more ink here!

Lauren is absolutely fabulous! I told her exactly what I wanted and she created the perfect tattoo! Her attention to detail was incredible and my tattoo turned out AMAZING! To top it off she is so kind and easy to talk to. We had the best conversations. My whole experience was exceptional from the consultation to the appointment. The moment you walk in the door everyone makes you feel so welcome!

We had the best time there!! They were extremely clean and took their time! I took my grandmother and family on a girls trip and the tattoos are amazing!! They had us in and out in no time! I appreciate how friendly they were!!

Intimate Piercing: (VHP) / Worth Traveling For! Greg was perfection; very kind and professional. Obviously I cannot upload a picture of my piercing but I am a female (was 100% comfortable with Greg) and he did a Vertical C__t Hood Piercing). The process was super fast (The faster the better in these situations) 😉 I would highly recommend if you are considering getting intimate piercings done that you go see Greg. I drove about 3 1/2 hours. He’s very reputable and worth a drive! ⚠️ UPDATE: It’s been 3.5 weeks since my piercing and everything has healed perfectly! I actually stopped “noticing” my piercing about a week and a half later. I’m so happy with the outcome ⚠️

Came in from out of town and got pierced by the amazing Greg! Greg made me feel completely comfortable and was very professional and personable. He talked to me during the entire process and made me feel calm and relaxed. Clean and sanitary environment as well. 100% would recommend Greg for intimate body piercing.

I dropped in for a new tattoo but after consulting with the artists we decided to make another appointment since it wouldn’t be a flash tattoo. I decided to get my previous tat touched up and it ended up getting infected and looking like a blob compared to how it was originally. We discussed the scar tissue and the artist said everything was good. After a few days things didn’t seem right and I contacted them to make sure it was healing okay, they assured me it was but the next day I had to go to urgent care for antibiotics. I cancelled my new tat appointment because I no longer trust this shop. I have since gotten a new tattoo that has healed perfectly. REGRET REGRET REGRET.

This place is awesome! I came in with my husband while honeymooning in the mountains and got a very meaningful mountain tattoo. They were able to take me as a walk-in with a reasonable wait time. Zeke was super nice and personable and did a great job on my tattoo. The prices are super fair and the atmosphere is great. Definitely recommend!

This place is amazing. I’ve gotten a tattoo here and several piercings. Greg is an amazing piercer and has great bedside manner. He is super kind and professional. All of the staff here are awesome, and I 100% recommend Empire for any tattoo or piercing!

Wife and I have multiple tattoos to start. We were on a weekend trip in Asheville and on a whim decided to get some small ones just randomly. Cause why not right? We called a few shops, no one was talking walk ins. On a Friday? Cmon!Empire said to come on down! We went in, told them the basic idea of what the two of us wanted, and they hooked us up with Zeke. Everyone was very professional, the facility was clean, and was overall a great atmosphere.Zeke was awesome. His prep and cleaning was great, he’s got an awesome story, and his work was top notch.Not sure the next time we will be back in Asheville, but we definitely will be coming back to see Zeke if we do!

My friend and I went to see Greg back in March! He both did some additional piercings in our ears. We loved him! We find out we were all from Bristol and we spent the entire appointment discussing all our favorite local places. He was so incredibly nice, made us feel comfortable, and we just couldnt have asked for a better time. Also, Empire Tattoo is incredibly clean! Would highly recommend and will definitely be back if I ever decide to get another piercing. Thanks, Greg!

Walked in yesterday on a whim on a day trip to Asheville and Im so glad I did! Everyone was so kind and Sebastian did a great job on my small tattoo. The shop was extremely clean and has a very cool vibe. I definitely recommend this shop, and Ill probably stop in again next time Im in town.

My husband and I, very spur of the moment, decided to go on Tuesday night and get couples chess tattoos as a celebration of our wedding last month (we had talked about it briefly before the wedding, but wedding prep& planning pushed it to the wayside with no planning of what or where). We called Empire up around 5PM to see if they had availability. They told us to come on on and theyd get us handled. I do wish my husband had asked their rates, but that was his fault, not Empires, artists should charge what they feel their time is worth. Zeke handled my husbands tattoo, while Lauren handled mine. I love mine, though I may eventually pursue getting watercolor kind of stuff added to mine in the future (my only other piece is a 9 hour black and white piece on my side). Its a fine lines piece, so it looks great now and I do anticipate it getting fuzzy in the future, but right now it looks wonderful. We were each done in about 20 minutes, not including prep&set up.

10/10 experience and people! Greg is a true professional, made me feel 100% comfortable getting my nipples pierced, and has great conversation. Ill definitely be back!

Greg did my piercing. It was my first and he was super nice and clear. Had a great conversation while he worked and he did an amazing job. 100% recommend for any service honestly. Everyone there was great.

Me and the three others in my group all got walk-in tattoos between Friday and Saturday. It was busy, but the staff did great at accommodating all of us in a very reasonable amount of time. Brian, Zeke, Sebastian and guest star Sean took good care of us. We all left happy and made some memories. Might become an annual tradition! Give them a look when considering your next tattoo!

I had the most amazing experience at Empire. From the moment I walked in the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming. Greg did my nose piercing and it was the smoothest process. He was incredibly kind and made the whole experience enjoyable. Sebastian did a tattoo for my friend while we were there and he was also very nice and knocked it out of the park. The linework is beautiful and he did an amazing job bringing her idea to life. 10/10 will be going to Empire for any tattoo/piercing from this point on.

The best experience i’ve ever had! Called when they opened for 2 septum piercings and got in at 3pm! Greg is absolutely fantastic he is very nice and totally made me and my fiancé feel at ease and I totally forget i was getting my nose pierced! So quick and easy and very clean!! Everyone is so so nice in there! We will definitely be back for piercings and tattoos!! Would 100% recommend to anyone!

This review is long overdue, but I got my nose pierced 2 years ago by Greg. I tend to pass out with needles and Greg was kind, patient, and professional. To the point that after he pierced it, I realized the jewelry I chose was not what I thought it was and he switched it out without a problem. I felt completely relaxed, respected, and empowered there. Even when I started to pass out, he handled it like a pro to the point that I didnt end up passing out. Greg totally made that experience great!

Awesome tattoos great prices. Zeke is an awesome artist did an awesome tattoo on my 18 year old son was his first tattoo.

I have lived in Asheville for 12 years and have had my ears pierced by two different salons. Today I had my third ear piercing, by Greg, and it was by far the best experience out of the 3. He is so super friendly, both my sister (Greg pierced her 4th ear piercing) and I felt extremely comfortable. Greg was patient, gentle, and made sure we were happy with the final placement. The staff we interacted with was also amazing! Thank you Empire Tattoo. I will be recommending AND coming back!

A really great experience for my daughters getting their ears pierced, from choosing their earrings to the piercings, things couldn’t have been better! Greg and the nice man up front were wonderful with my girls! Thank you, we may be back some day for tattoos!

Had a fantastic time, everyone was super sweet and in love with my first industrial. Went back for the second industrial, (got both redone) as well as second lobes. Can not recommend Greg enough. He definitely is my primary piercer!

Once again, I had the best experience with Empire. From the conversations with the guy who runs the place, to the artist who took the time to give me exactly what I want. I thinkkkk his name is Devin, I’m terrible at remembering names. But he gave me EXACTLY what I wanted….and this was the first time I have gotten a tattoo and felt that way. Thanks guys!

I would highly recommend going to Empire for your next tattoo. This was my first tattoo, given I was nervous and had some anxiety as I never experienced this process. I worked with Devin Burnette, who was awesome during the whole. I was able to talk with him and send him a few photos for reference, and he totally knocked it out of the park. The tattoo was beyond my expectation, I couldnt have imagined it coming out any better.

Had a great experience with a piercing from Gregg Phipps. Gregg was professional, quick and had good bedside manner. Highly recommend. Wanted an appointment as soon as possible after having to take out a piercing for medical reasons, and Empire was able to squeeze in an appointment the day of. From the outside this place seems grungy, especially being a small shop downtown, but their staff and interior are wonderful. In addition, they offer good value, the piercing change out was just $5. This shop is solid.

I went here many years ago to get my nose pierced. Came back recently to get my septum done. Both experiences were phenomenal. Everyone is super friendly and Greg did such a great job!!!!!!!! I had a great time chatting and getting pierced.

Stopped by this afternoon for a quick flash tattoo to memorialize my first trip to Asheville. The shop was clean, bright and beautiful. The staff was kind and helpful. I found something I liked and Zeke even altered it to make it unique to me. They are no nonsense and I felt comfortable in the shop. Will definitely come back to get something added when I come back to Asheville!!

I can not recommend this place enough! Big shout out to Zeke for making my tattoo idea come to life. I was nervous at first because this was my first tattoo and he was very patient with all of my concerns. His line work and shading is phenomenal and I can truly say I am so glad I trusted the process. Although I didn’t mention it, this tattoo is very meaningful to me. It represents the strength that my family members had while fighting cancer and mental health before passing. Along with growth and pain/grief. He offered breaks during the tattoo, but none was needed as he does amazing! I will not be using any other shop in the future and I can’t wait to go back!Also, LOVE the customer service. They are extremely helpful and make you feel at home as soon as you step in the door!

John done such an excellent job covering up a 29 year tattoo that was a curse for me. A very emotional event. I recommend John to everyone.The tattoo was supposed to say Christy, but it spelled Cursty. The black hawk was a perfect cover up. In memory of Taylor Hawkins. The drummer for foo fighters . A symbol of hope for me

Greg was awesome and very professional. He was excellent with my daughter getting her 1st piercing. All the staff was welcoming. The shop was clean. We will be back!

Matt Clarke is always amazing! He is the only artist in Asheville I use. He is professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and super talented! He has done 9 pieces for me and I have never been disappointed.

I got my septum and my naval done here and the service was sooo magnificent! The staff made me feel very comfortable and welcomed and talked me through the process. They gave me such great information on how to care for my piercings properly and everything was quick and easy! Prices were excellent too especially for the quality of service.

We had the absolute best experience at Empire. From the first phone call on I received nothing but friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable service. I took my daughter to get her nose pierced. Greg did a wonderful job. He made her feel comfortable and safe. He was truly a breath of fresh air. I went back 2 weeks later and Alex did my tattoo. He was very professional and did a wonderful job. I am so happy with the service I received from everyone at this establishment.

AMAZING! From making the appointment to getting my septum pierced, everyone was so kind! Greg is awesome, very gentle and so quick and easy. I’ll definitely be back for my next piercing!

We came into the shop as walk-ins and got Zeke as our tattoo artist. He was so kind, so quick, and the tattoo turned out better than we could’ve expected. I would recommend this place and Zeke anytime, any day!

Wonderful shop! My friend and I were visiting from out of state and decided to get tattoos. They put us down on their wait for walk-ins and we were called within an hour! Sebastian did our work and we could not be happier! He was quick and our ink turned out awesome! Great staff, fun vibes! Would go again

I had Lauren tattoo my arm for my first tattoo and she was so cool! She was easy to talk to and helped me with any nerves that I had! She covered aftercare well and did an amazing job! I will definitely be coming back to Empire Tattoo to get more!!

Great experience! They accommodated my familys walk-in, was very polite and helpful. Great environment, and we all love our tattoos! Shout out to Zeke on phenomenal artwork! Thank you!

Highly recommend!! This place rocks. Cozy environment. They took me in as a walk in right away and blessed me with a very meaningful tattoo. I’m so bad with names but one of them was Bryan… they were all awesome. Thankzzz!!

My sister, best friend, and myself went yesterday on a spontaneous whim. We were greeted by Brian who treated us like family. The pieces we got by Zeek is absolutely beautiful and he was amazing. We all love our tats!! Facility was nice and clean and didn’t give us the tattoo shop “heebie-jeebies.” Would definitely recommend a thousand times over. Thanks for showing us out-of-towners a great time. 😊

I came to Asheville to visit for a day. I wanted a tattoo and walked in to see if they could do something small for me. They were able to get me in and out quickly and they were all so nice. This place has a very welcoming and fun atmosphere. Thank you again for being able to squeeze me in real quick! I hope to come back and get another tattoo soon. What I got looks so good… way better than what I was showing him that I wanted.

Wife and I took a weekend trip to Asheville and made an appointment at Empire. We made the right choice. Awesome experience. Everybody there was great. Brian at the desk is cool guy. I enjoyed talking to him. Zeke Griffin did our tattoos and killed them. We highly recommend the shop. We will be back. Thanks Empire

I went and got a tiny worded tattoo on my arm and I needed to be home at a certain time and I was out within 5 minutes and I love my tat. I plan on going back for a consultation for .y next peice. Very clean, friendly and love the vibe

Can I just take a moment and tell yall how much I love Greg, Jon and Brien at Empire?! These guys are wicked cool, always have me laughing and enjoying myself. I know when I walk in that there is no judgment, just knowledge and assistance for a piercing or tattoo. Yall make me feel so welcome and a part of the cool kids club and I love yall to pieces for it. Keep being you and sharing your good vibes. xoxo

I had a fantastic experience being tattooed by Zeke. He listened to my design idea and brought it to life. Brian at the front desk was also extremely helpful with scheduling my tattoo appointment, as well as my three friends appointments who were with me.I highly recommend this business. It has such a positive vibe.

Ive gone to previous tattoo shops, but this was by far the best one. All of the staff is very friendly and outgoing! They make sure you feel welcomed and comfortable throughout the whole time. I got my nose pierced and loved Gregs job. I will definitely be coming here next time I want a tattoo done. It was for sure a 10 out 10. Highly recommend!

Hands down best piercer. I got my septum done. Entire procedure was fast and pain was minimum. Greg was amazing, so was Brian at the front. We came from out of town, and only then found out about this place. They were able to fit us into their busy schedule, and it was worth it. Pricing is fair. Plus, great jewelry selection.

My daughter and myself went for piercings 1 for sky and three on myself where my old piercings were .Awesome experience I highly recommend them for piercings and tattoos freaking awesome .We will be back for more I cant say how much of a great experience it was .They did my tattoo and piercings years back but I and my daughter wasgreeted by name , I cant say enough yall call or go by the shop you want be disappointed . 🤙💯✌️

Brought my two college age daughters in for their 2nd and 3rd ear piercings when they were in town for Spring Break. The staff was super friendly and took their time to explain the options. When it came time to do the piercings and the girls were a little nervous, the gentleman doing them was very nice and made them feel very comfortable. He has been piercing there for 16 years so we knew it was going to go well and it did! Highly recommended!

I went for a septum piercing over the winter and they were by appointment only. They had the doors locked when I got there but immediately opened them and asked me to come in and addressed me by name. They were very professional and kind. Since I had already had a septum piercing before they were able to taper it instead of piercing it all over again. I felt the staff was knowledgeable and very helpful. They even let me wait inside until my ride could get back to the shop. Overall great experience I would highly recommended them.

I get pierced for the pleasure of it. Ive received two new holes from empire -- one BC and one mid-pandemic -- and both times I felt great about the whole experience. Theyre clean, attentive, GREAT skill with the needle.My nostril piercing they gave me a test ring and let me move it all over until I liked the position, size etc. No pressure to hurry up.I am no longer a local, but Id make the drive just to have them do my next piercing.

The tattoo is fire - what can I say?! My artist, Zeke @voodoo_bridge, was fantastic and I will be back! The line work and color pops are great! I’m getting a lot of compliments on it too! Can’t to go back!

I loved empire and would recommend them to anyone! i’ve only gotten lobe piercings so getting my septum done was very scary! greg was super nice and had a calming vibe! he walked me through the whole process and made me feel very comfortable. even the guy who checked me in was very nice and the overall vibe of the shop was great. it was clean and everyone was very upbeat! definitely recommend!!! thank you greg!!

Excellent service for walk ins. Sebastian does excellent work. Very pleased and will schedule for more art.

I will never go to another location other than here. I had my piercing done here. Everyone is extremely friendly and outgoing. One of the best customer service I have ever experience. Greg was absolutely amazing. He knows what he is doing. I felt very comfortable through the entire process. He was super patient took his time making sure we were happy with the placement. He also was super gentle. I recommend this place to everyone.

My best friend and I came here for a tattoo and piercing and had the most wonderful experience! John immediately made us feel comfortable and right at home. My piercing with Greg was seamless and sanitary. My friend’s tattoo with Zach (Zack? Zac? Zak?) was awesome and he helped her create the exact design she was looking for. We will be back once I get enough nerve to get my first tattoo!

I cannot sing empires praises high enough! Greg has done all my piercings (tongue, septum, vertical labret, bellybutton) and will probably all of them. He is always speedy yet thorough, extremely welcoming/friendly, and has always been accommodating.I havent gotten any tattoos here yet, but I spoke with Devyn briefly about what I was wanting to get and he was also very friendly. Overall I highly recommend coming here! Prices are fair, piercings are done extremely well, and everyone who works here are absolute sweethearts.

Greg did my nostril and septum piercings and both experiences were great. He made sure I was at ease and answered any questions. The procedure was over so quickly and he was so gentle. The atmosphere was so chill and I highly recommend this place!

Staff are relaxed but professional. Every piercing Ive gotten here has been well done, well placed, and easy to care for. The same for my tattoos (simple blackwork but well done and still dark and bold after several years). The shop is clean and relaxing. Definitely recommend this place.

My friend and I got our first major piercing here (septum) and it was a really great experience. Greg took time to make sure we were calm. Nobody at the shop had a dick attitude. They made us both feel super comfortable and reassured us. Greg went at a good pace and it didnt hurt! He was a really sweet guy and I am super happy with my piercing. Its not crooked and its at a perfect spot in my nose. Just where I wanted. My friend and I will definitely be coming here for all of our future piercings! Plus I got two lollipops. :-)

I get my piercings with Greg and my tattoos with JD and they are both extremely nice, clean, and talented. Cant say enough about this shop. Theres a reason why they stay booked, cause theyre good. Definitely recommend these guys for any piercing or tattoo needs.

Super helpful, good prices for quality piercing. It was not very painful, I had my helix pierced and my two friends got a nostril and septum done respectively, and all three of us have had great healing experiences so far. It was very sanitary, a very calming environment, and a very respectable business, we signed lease forms and showed ID beforehand, and the piercer was very nice and friendly. We were allowed a friend in the room for emotional support, but my piercing was very simple and easy. There was no piercing gun used, only sanitary needles, so its safe and less painful. I highly recommend!

Good local spot + Great experience here! This is my first tattoo here (I have 15+ tattoos) and I loved the environment, hospitality, transparency, and quality of work. I got in with Alex and he was super easy to work with, fairly priced, and has a light hand / efficiently paced. I’ll definitely be getting another tattoo with Alex, super happy with this appointment.

I came in for a septum nose ring and I must say that was one of the best piercing experiences I have had. Greg was awesome, he explained to me what the process was and said the clamping would be more uncomfortable than the piercing itself. Well, neither were bad at all and it was super quick! They gave me instructions on how to take care of it and overall the whole staff was extremely friendly. I would definitely recommend for anyone who wants to get pierced.

I was in from of town and had a small piercing issue, and called and got an appt. that afternoon. Staff was very friendly and professional. Great over all experience, esp. not knowing the piercing scene in Asheville. I will return here when I am back in town !!! Fantastic !

I have been tattooed by Josh before in the past at his old shop and traveled to get two more by him this year. Of course, his style is always clean and amazing. The shop was super clean, incredibly friendly and welcoming. This is by far the BEST experience I have ever had at a shop. All members we polite and we all had a blast. I would recommend this shopp a million time over! They quickly helped get rid of those tattoo jitters and you end up having a rad time. Never will I have a friendlier experience. Thank you, guys. I will definitely be traveling again soon to see you all!

Called this morning for a new piercing for my daughter and I can not say enough good things about our experience everyone was so nice! Very clean environment! I HIGHLY recommend them! Thanks Greg

I received my first nose piercing and second tattoo here and really enjoyed the environment. Its a really clean place with great people. I plan on scheduling my next tattoo this week at Empire Tattoo and I have been recommending this place to people as well. The artist I had that did my second tattoo was very patient with me and did a full outline and coloring in 4.5 hours and it turned out perfect. It was a great price too! Im very happy with how it turned out and I am going back very soon!

I HIGHLY recommend coming to this shop for any Tattoo needs. Tattoo artist Matthew did a phenomenal job and I couldnt have asked for anything better.

Brian, Lauren, and every one else at Empire were fantastic! So friendly. My husband and I got something small on a whim and they worked us in and we love how it turned out. Highly recommend this shop!

I went here to get my nostril pierced and it was such a good experience. I was really apprehensive about it because I had the same piercing done a few years elsewhere and it was super painful and I had to remove it because the jewelery was too small. I was under the impression that a nose piercing just hurts real bad in general but I was wrong. He made it as painless as possible and it went really smooth. If I ever need anything else pierced Id definitely return and I dont even live in Asheville.

I had the most wonderful experience at Empire Tattoo! I went in to get my nose pierced and Greg Phipps was so kind and made me feel very comfortable. I had a great time and Greg made me laugh and eased my nerves. I was very excited that I could get pierced with a hoop instead of stud ring. Everyone was very professional and welcoming. I am so glad I came to Empire Tattoo, I will never go anywhere else for a piercing or a tattoo!!

We just had the best experience with Greg the piercing artist. He was so nice and gentle. It was my teenage daughters first time getting a piercing and he made it very easy and fun.

Best experience my husband and I have ever had in a tattoo shop. Every single person here is so friendly and professional and the artistry is amazing. We will definitely continue making the drive from Cincinnati for service and art work like this. Highly recommend.

Nose piercing, excellent customer service and piercing. They also answered our questions months later to make sure it was looking healthy. Thank you for being awesome! I definitely recommend their service.

Great customer service, very honest and they do good work!I was planning on getting cartilage piercings in both ears but Greg pushed back, pointing out that it would be uncomfortable to sleep with both ears pierced. Im very happy he did so!

Empire was the best! Really nice, friendly guys running the shop which was very clean and had great art on the walls. I got my first nose piercing today by Greg??(I think that was his name!) but he was really knowledgeable and it was painless, super quick, and easy. I love how it turned out and I would definitely go back! Thanks yall!

My husband & I wanted to get tattoos on our honeymoon & we decided to try Empire because of the positive reviews we saw online. We had a great experience there! Isaac did my husbands & Devin did mine. The shop was clean, employees were personable & friendly & our tattoos turned out perfect. We highly recommend anybody looking to get a tattoo to go to Empire. We look forward to coming back!!Thanks,Brian & Rachel Franza

This is definitely the most welcoming tattoo and piercing parlor that Ive ever been in!!! Everyone is kind, skilled, and knowledgeable. I first came here when I was 14 years old to get my nose pierced and I have never had a better experience anywhere else. Greg has even helped me fix someone elses botched work on multiple occasions. Their selection of jewelry is very unique, full of high-quality, handcrafted items. If I ever want a piercing or jewelry or even just want a trustworthy answer to a piercing or tattoo related question, Empire is my go-to. You can really feel the love and sense of family in the place.

Visiting from Northern Virginia like I have for the past 15 years and saw Empire while I was walking downtown, looked at the reviews, called and made an appointment, the whole staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. Discussed what I needed and provided me their expertise, I’m ecstatic about my piercings and service was top notch!! Highly recommend!

I got the worst tattoo that I’ve ever gotten here this past weekend. My artist used a stencil and still messed up on the lines. Super upset bc it was such a meaningful tattoo and I’m already thinking about a coverup or laser removal.

I called ahead to make sure the piercer was in, and the person who answered was nice and upbeat. When I walked into the shop, I immediately received a friendly greeting. I went to get a dermal and wanted it as close as possible to where my old one had been, the piercer said he could do it in the same spot. He was nice and friendly throughout, even though my scar tissue made his job a bit more difficult and take longer than expected. We conversed the entire time and he asked intermittently if I was alright. It wasnt the smoothest piercing experience due to a good bit of bleeding and scar tissue, but the piercer (I have terrible recall for names) was patient and never once seemed bothered. I left with a dermal exactly where I wanted and nothing but positive things to say about Empire-I definitely recommend this shop.Edit: Had a tattoo done at Empire today, happy with the experience on that end of the business as well!

Went with my wife to get a piercing and the service was excellent. Gary was friendly and conversational which helped my wife relax and the entire process from start to finish took 15 minutes. He was thorough with follow up instructions and advice. I would absolutely recommend this shop.

Got a Nostril Piercing at Empire. Very quick, professional, and easy. They offered to even change out my cartilage jewelry. They have lots for jewelry options. The prices were very reasonable and the shop felt very very clean. The shop takes covid precautions and guidelines seriously. Excited to book a tattoo appointment with them!

First off this shop has prime location in downtown. Well deserving for this shop. Went in around 2pm on a friday afternoon. Not much of a wait.the guy at the front counter was very patient with me. I had not decided what i wanted. Each artiest has their own office, which made it much more personal &relaxing. My artist, Isaiah, was extremely professional and very easy to talk to. He is truly an artist. I just got a smaller design on my forearm, but all line work and he NAILED IT!! This guy has a very easy hand and is a like master. I WILL be coming back.

AWESOME first experience. Wandered in just looking for a new industrial bar for an existing piercing and decided on a whim to get my first tattoo. Staff was amazing, friendly and knowledgable. They fit me in on a tight schedule and I couldnt be more pleased. Will most certainly be back.

Absolutely terrific! Wonderful artwork and no issues with healing. Very pleasant and professional employees. They treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Will use them in the future for more tattoos.

No appointment needed for a piercing when I went. The guy was super nice throughout the entire experience. I was in and out in under 20 minutes. They were clean and he pierced fast! If I’m ever in Asheville again, I will go back to this place.

From Greenville, SC. Best tattoo shop Ive been to. Staff is personable and the overall experience is great. Isaiah did a complete re-drawing of an original image in order to keep the image the same size but change the detail around. The result was better than the original and I am more than pleased with the result. Definitely the best shop and artist. Will only go here for any future tattoos.

Visited Empire Tattoo and had my art done by Zeke! I absolutely love it and couldnt be happier with it. Zeke is awesome and everyone that I met was super chill and nice.

I got my first tattoo this week at Empire and couldnt be happier! Great shop with rad dudes working there that are super friendly and personable. Brian up front was funny and helpful and Devin rocked it on my tattoo! Highly recommend this spot!!

Absolutely amazing service! Everyone was so friendly. Love my bee so much. Would highly recommend seeing Sean for a great tattoo

Went in on a saturday during an event downtown as a walk in for a second navel piercing and was in and out in 15 minutes at most. greg is fantastic at what he does and super chill & helpful. he explained everything he was going to do and even gave me more tips on cleaning and maintaining the piercing. would definitely be back.

Greg did my nose piercing and was totally awesome. This was my second one; first one not done by Greg didnt work out. He has adjusted the jewelry so that I dont know it is there, and the long end does not ever hang out the end of my nose which is so gross. He is a terrific piercer and a really nice guy. Yes. See Greg.Also, he has you use a gentle saline solution afterwards which works really well and is better than all the other stuff my first piercer had me use.

Got a sleeve from Ryan Fink. I started it about 7 months ago and finished it last week. I let Ryan design it and choose the color scheme. The only input I gave him was where I wanted it and the style. I couldnt be happier with the outcome. He was a complete professional the entire time. Every artist I interacted with there was friendly and totally cool to be around. I enjoyed the entire experience. I am already thinking about my next tats for Ryan to work on for me.

I love Empire Tattoo, and Im glad that Im finally writing the review like Ive been meaning to. I have 4 piercings (my septum and three cartilage piercings) and I am about to get my 2nd tattoo from empire and the service rocks. It is a very personal experience that I would suggest to anyone. Everybody is really nice and willing to listen to what you have to say. Theyre really patient and do a very good job about educating you on care information. Dont be afraid to ask questions, they will answer them for you!

Went in 3 weeks ago to have my Smiley done by Greg. As it was healing, I was really not happy with the way it was sitting, due to body rejection and migration. When I went back in to talk I was really nervous since Ive had my own piercing nightmares from other shops and came off as a bit offensively defensive due to being high strung from watching it get more crooked through out the weeks. Greg calmed me back down and took care of me and gave me a credit for more than I paid for the piercing originally. Despite not being happy with this specific piercing, I would still go back and and get re-pierced by him and recommend him, and this shop, to anyone thinking about getting a piercing done due to the professionalism with their customer service. Sorry Greg, I really appreciate the way you handled this situation! Thank you!

If you get a chance to go here, you wont be disappointed. A friend of mine was there for a tattoo and Brian and the tattoo artists made us feel right at home. We actually were sad when we had to leave. Definitely recommend these guys!

Absolutely amazing work. My first ever tattoo and the experience was amazing

Short: I am a nurse. It was my first tattoo. I was nervous. Turned out great! Not so short: My best friend (of 35+ years) and I wanted matching friendship tats so we drove about an hour to get there and we were walk-ins. We had a picture of what we wanted and Ryan took a few minutes to draw it up, shrink it down, and make sure we liked it. He was patient, answering all our questions and took time to explain everything he was doing. His work area was clean and I felt safe. If I were to get another tattoo (unlikely - just because I prefer to live pain-free, lol) I would go back to Empire and Ryan.

My sister and I went to get piercings done for our ears. They are very careful and clean about the whole process and did a fantastic job. Such a great business to support in Asheville.

Absolutely love my tattoo done by Burnett! Definitely will be returning in the future. All of the shop’s artists were super cool and very friendly. Thanks again yall!

Best shop in town. Went above and beyond to help with a piercing I had by them to make sure it was clean and they changed it for free..So professional. Ive got over a dozen tattoos as well and these guys do it right. HIGHLY RECOMMEND over all in Asheville.

Very kind, easy to work with, straight forward and helpful. I walked in and walked out with a small tattoo in under and hour. Highly recommend!

Over the past 30 years Ive been tattooed at numerous shops throughout the country as well as overseas. Empire definitely ranks up there as one of the best experiences Ive ever had. Everyone was professional, very friendly, the shop is clean and its nice that the artist have private rooms. I was tattooed by Randy Hall who did an unbelievable job. Asheville is lucky to have a shop of this caliber in town.

My sister and I are visiting from out of town. we wanted two simple tattoos. No shading only lines. It took them 30 minutes to draw up two inch tattoos. The lines were not even on my sisters drawing. She asked if that would be even on the real tattoo. It is a lifetime commitment. They found us too picky and said they couldnt work with us because we wanted straight lines. Although they claim to have the best artists in the world. cute you guys. continue turning down easy clients because you cant draw a straight line.

I was generally bummed out last week after being denied service from a competing Asheville establishment for wanting body art that was “Irrelevant and too 90’s.”Thankfully, Greg and the staff at Empire restored my faith in humanity by welcoming me with open arms. They were kind, professional, and intuitive. Empire has a new lifelong customer.

I got my nose pierced there today & they were very quick and very nice! Greg lightens the mood and completely makes you forget you were even nervous! Definitely recommend!!💕

I got my first piece done here while I was visiting Asheville with my boyfriend and I could not have been happier with the outcome! The staff were friendly, helpful and cool, helping to put my mind at ease. Definitely picked the right place! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Got my ear pierced (First time with a needle as opposed to the gun at the mall). Greg was excellent in explaining the process and spent extra time to make sure the location was going match my existing earring in my other ear. There was minimal pain as opposed to the gun method. It was pierced as a 12 gauge and stretched to a 10 gauge. All in all a great experience with Empire Tattoo. Greg and everyone I talked to were very friendly and the place was clean. I would recommend Greg highly for piercings. Once again I am very happy with them and the price was affordable!

From the first point of contact with John to when we were warmly welcomed by Brian to the tattoo given by Sebastian, we only have outstanding things to say. Definitely recommend this place!

Amazing first tattoo experience! The entire staff were nice and made the atmosphere very comfortable! On top of being comfortable the ENTIRE shop was sanitary and very professional! Jon did my first piece it was a small quote and priced perfectly! Amazing shop!!

This is, in my opinion, the best place to go if you want great, quality work done! I am no professional tattoo critic and dont have that many, but I have and will continue to drive around 2 hours just to get any work done by Ryan! They have a great staff that can customize anything you want right on the spot. Very clean and professional by any ones standards.

I just went in today, and I had an amazing experience. I didn’t get the name of the guy at the front but he was awesome! Very nice and friendly! Devin did my tattoo, and he was excellent! Very quick and professional

This is the worst tattoo/piercing experience I have ever had. Greg was the surly and snarky individual tasked to pierce my nose, and when I showed him where I would like to have it pierced, he insisted that it was the incorrect spot and marked a different location. I agreed to his placement, trusting his wisdom, but several hours later decided that it wasnt flattering as far forward as he had pierced it and that I would like to have it done in the spot Id originally requested. When I called to inquire if he would perform said service, he was disrespectful, unprofessional and childish, falsely claiming to have verified with me 100 times where it would be pierced (he showed it to me once as he rushed me through the job), and generally acted like an ignorant twit. I would not recommend this location to ANYONE coming to or living in Asheville, unless they want to pay to be treated horribly and have their wants and needs disregarded.

Greg is amazing and the coolest person i have ever met!!!!!!! He pierced my septum and it was so fast and easy and painless.

The very best tattoo shop in Asheville and the entire world. Matt Clarke is an ink beast.

Today was the first time I have ever visited Empire and it was such a good experience! the guys (didn’t catch their names) at the counter were hilarious and really made my piercing quick and painless. It’s safe to say I will be visiting them again!

I have been going to Ryan since he started there. Got my very first tattoo from Jay when it was Daredevil. The whole shop is a class act. Everyone is talented and very professional and thorough. People complain about high prices but as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. Go get tattooed by Bubba at his house if you dont want quality work.

Great visit. Walked in with an idea and Devin drew it up and applied it. Very clean and knowledgable staff. Awesome work.

We were in town for vacation and decides to get some work done. Isaiah was probably the best tattoo artist Ive ever had experience with! The entire staff was excellent. Highly recommend!

I go to Empire for all my piercing needs. Started going there when I lived in Spartanburg, South Carolina now that I live in Statesboro, Georgia I will still drive 5 hours to go there. Just got my nose pierced with a beautiful opal stud that the guys help me pick. Gregg, the piercer, made me feel so comfortable and made it painless as possible. Every time I stop in they make me feel like family. I will never go anywhere else. Ive gotten my cartilage done(both ears) my ears done and stretched, my belly button done and lastly my nose. Best place in the Carolinas and GA.

Went up for the day with a friend to get tattoos. We are from Columbia, S.C., and although I am sure its annoying to have two female walk-ins bright in early, these guys were amazing. We came in with ideas and both our artists worked with us and came up with amazing artwork. I got a pair of shears on my wrist and my friend got an indian elephant on her side. Both Ryan and Will were clean and patient. They produced AMAZING final results. I feel confident in saying that both of our tattoos are some of the best I have ever seen and I am beyond grateful for what these guys did. Would go back a thousand times over. Thank you Ryan and Will for doing fantastic work.

Brought some custom art of mine in to be tattooed and it turned out wonderfully. It was my first tattoo and everyone was very welcoming and professional. Would definitely recommend this shop 10/10. Thanks Devyn!

Great place, Greg was very professional, got my nose pierced like I wanted! it’s so cute!! He did snakebites on my daughter in law, they look awesome on her.

I went here to get my first tattoo and I had an amazing experience. Isaiah is a great artist and guy in general and makes sure to take great care of your tattoo and make sure he does it perfect. I will be going only here for my future tattoos.

Love this place! Everyone here is so kind and welcoming, and all of the artists here do amazing work! I got a tattoo from Josh, extremely nice dude and an awesome tattooer. Will definitely be back soon.

The people were very welcoming as soon as we walked in. I got the daith piercing and Greg done my piercing, he was great. Very informative and professional. The place was very clean. Thank you all.

The staff is personable, patient, kind and really wonderful at what they do! And the building/utensils are kept so clean. I Was so happy with my piercing!! I’ll only come back here

Super cool spot! Wife got her nose pierced there, clean and professional. Even gave my baby daughter a lollipop to calm her down. Really cool guys. Will definitely return.

Greg was super rad. Did great on my philtrum piercing. Overall shop staff was kind. And the shop itself was clean and lovely. Definitely recommend.

Walked in today to get a quote on a very simple script fill on my wifes wrist. Dude we talked to was very dismissive. We wouldve spent up to 200 bucks for a 30 minute job and left knowing we will never walk back in. Very disappointed and could not recommend based on our experience. We were the ones asking to redo the outline of four cursive letters on my wifes wrist. This was for our 10 year anniversary. Not. Good. We will happily spend our money with someone else. Have a good Memorial Day weekend.

Amazing! Visiting on vacation and wanted a new nose piercing. The guys working there were great, and I got a good piercing. Overall GREAT experience!

I didnt get inked here, but i bought the tattoo numbing cream - AND IT WORKS LIKE A DREAM! 3 hour tattoo and not a flinch. Thank you Empire! Only shop in town that offers this product

Great spot. JD popped a little dead rose on my arm as a walk in. Looks fantastic. Super nice people and great artists. I’ll be back.

Got piercings. Came our great. Great service and they take walk-ins. Saw a couple of tats while waiting and they were extremely well done.

Very welcoming environment and very clean! i got my first tattoo here and they were comforting and totally helped make my tattoo perfect

They are amazing. Came in as a walk-in, told them a general idea of what I wanted, Devin took the image and my idea and freehanded exactly what I wanted. After that they had me in and out! On top of all that they had a very fair price!

My wife and i have been looking for a good shop to start going since we moved out here and finally found one. We got tattooed on sunday the 12th for our anniversary and loved the work we got. My wife got tattooed by devin and i got tattooed by Will. Excelent artists and i highly recomend both of them thanks guys you will see us again soon. Staff was also friendly and seemed solid.

Went to get my nose done and they were all awesome! Super chill people and Greg was super cool and explained everything so well and made me feel super comfortable! Definitely going back again, thanks guys!! 😬😬

First let me start by saying Ive been tattooed by more than half these guys and love everything I have gotten done here. Coming from someone with a lot of tattoos. Reading some of the bad responses make no sense based off my experiences. Would reccomend.

Greg is a great piercer! He was patient & friendly with my daughter and did an excellent job!! I would reccomend him to anyone!!!

I recently got my first tattoo at this shop. The staff was nice, helpful, and talented. Thanks guys, my girlfriend and I had a great experience.

Awesome people. Came in as a walk in and they made time for my boyfriend his sister and myself. they were super clean and took their time on making sure we liked and were comfortable with everything they were doing.

Great experience. Went for my 30th birthday with my sister to get matching peach tattoos. Josh was professional, fun and did a great job!

Good people, great conversation an quality work!!

These guys are really cool and they do good work. Cant speak for the tattoos but the piercings are great. Dont order the clam chowder.

The staff is incredibly nice. However I had to return four times to try and be there at the same time as the piercer. Two times they were closed well before the hours posted, and twice the piercer was out. Maybe it was just bad timing, but it was frustrating nonetheless.

Great service, exceptionally helpful in designing with your input, and thoroughly professional. Ive had my tattoo for almost ten years, and it has minimal fade or bleed.

This is the result of my tattoo... a month after “healing”. I’ve had numerous tattoos and take superior care of each one. I sent a picture of this to the manager and he said this is normal?? I was surprised with his response because this tattoo looks like it was done in prison.

Went in for my first actual big professional tattoo, It went smooth, Isaiah was hella friendly and the other staff was nice as well.Would recommend.

Great shop, talented artists, very professional. Ive been getting tattooed for over 30 years, and this is one of the best shops ive ever been to.

Alex did an amazing job on a small piece for my first tattoo. I felt very comfortable. Thank you Ill be back!

This is a great business. I got my nose pierced here a few years ago and took my daughter to get hers done today. Wonderful folks!

Greg the piercer was knowledgeable & kind. If I choose to get another piercing, I will definitley be going to him. Highly recommed.

Very clean. Nice. Did an awesome job on my tattoo. Very professional. This was the third tattoo I have got there. And I will continue to go back for the rest of mine!!

Super awesome crew. Friendly, professional, and fun.

Best shop in the state. Ryan Fink is the man to see for the highest quality work you can find. Entire staff is professional and easy to work with.

This was the best place I have ever been! The staff was so helpful and friendly and I love my piercing! This will be the only place I ever go from now on!

Friendly, awesome vibe, they now there stuff. Will return there for another tat. Alex Blackwell is a great artist highly recommend him.

Did a walk in and everyone was so nice and professional. Highly recommend for any pice.

Best Tattoo Studio in this area! I would highly recommend this place to anyone! The best tat shop & artist I have ever been in! Super professional & friendly!

I got my conch pierced by Greg, great experience! Super affordable. The staff was friendly and answered all of my questions.

Got a killer pin up from Alex! Everyone was really chill and nice. The shop is nice and easy to find. I will definitely be back.

Was very rude, got very offensive because we were discussing how a nose piercing was overpriced. Didn’t give them our money and wouldn’t even go back. Now we see why there wasn’t anybody there getting a tattoo or piercing.

Had a beautiful experience here this week! Hope to return soon ❤️ thank you!

My favorite shop in Asheville for tattoos and piercings! The staff is the best!

Great vibe, good artists. Will be back and get some serious work done. Isaiah is ON POINT! Very good atmosphere all around.

Greg is my favorite piercer ever, hes always good to me & Im always happy with the way it looks

First tattoo ever and everything was explained and done professionally. Awesome work on a simple piece.

Rad staff and great work. Greg did a piercing on me and was super professional and knowledgeable. 👍🏻

Really nice and helpful staff! I love my first piercing, and I will be back when I decide to get more lol

Great art, good prices, fun atmosphere, personable artists. I definitely recommend getting work done with these guys if youre looking for your next piece.

Horrible experience with a woman over the phone who treated me like I was a complete idiot for not being aware of their cancellation policy which was never explained to me. Lost my 80 dollar deposit. I can live with that. But to be treated like Im stupid and even lying about my conversation the day before with another employee was awful.

The shop was extremely welcoming and Alex totally exceeded our expectations perfecting 2 different styles. Thanks again!

I love all these guys. Been a patron for half my life. 10/10 would recommend.

Great experience with my piercing!!

Greg did a phenomenal job on my piercings. I will definitely return!

Can’t say anything about the tattoos but the piercer is great!

Love this place! Theyre awesome, clean, and quick! Ive been multiple times and each time has been great! Ill definitely be back.

I had a great experience with Lauren and the shop! Best in town. Check them out!

Fast, friendly, and quality service. One of the best piercers in the area. Thank you!

The guys are WICKED PISSAH!!!! Thanks guys for being very accommodating, being sweet to my 16 yr old getting her bah done, and a new tat for me!! Wicked awesome guys!!!

Staff is so friendly and Isaiah did an amazing job on my tattoo, definitely recommend!

If you want a quality low price tattoo, i highly recommend that you go to Empire Tattoo! Really cool people that are part of the experience too!!

Great staff, excellent work.

Absolutely amazing studio. Friendly staff, very clean. Highly recommend!

Love it. Got an amazing piece done by Ryan. 100% think you should check them out. Great atmosphere. 10/10