Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Cruz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Danny. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In the 1980’s, my parents came to Georgia from Vietnam and I was born in Atlanta in 1989. I had an average childhood from what I can remember… middle class working parents but a long way from starting a new life from Vietnam. Watching both my parents growing up, always working for themselves and always had their own business, taught me a lot about making something from nothing. Fast Forward to my teenage years growing up in clayton county and always wanting to be in the streets with my friends, around 14-15 years old. I got my first tattoo in a discount mall on the southside for $20! I thought i was so hard then! As time went on and the more tattoos i got, I felt like “I can do this too”. I got some cheap equipment and did tattoos on all my homeboys from the hood and it was up from there! Ever since then tattooing became my life. I was hungry for more.
Everything became tattoo life. Back then it wasn’t a lot of information on the internet or nothing like that and everybody was tight on passing around knowledge because, of course, it was creating more competition. I had to find knowledge everywhere i could. From books to drawing every day and even just asking other tattoo artists for just even the smallest advice was all valuable to me. I was thirsty on becoming better and seeing how far i can go with this. I was blessed to work with so many other talented artists from all over who share the same passion, drive and determination as me. I wouldn’t change how I came up for nothing because I know its destiny and how life played out for me because I know it could have been worst for me. Finally, on January 1st, 2019 I opened my own tattoo shop in the same place I grew up at “South Atlanta”.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I took a lot of sacrifices and losses just like anybody else only difference is I never gave up. I kept pushing and still pushing every day. Every day is a learning experience. I’m always looking for way to improve my game. I study hard because I know everybody else is not slowing down.
We’d love to hear more about the business.
4154 tattoo shop is named after the address 4154 Jonesboro rd. You can definitely walk-in but most of the time everyone is booked out. Diversity is what makes my shop stand out. Each artist has a different background but we’re all are like family. It’s a tight bond, small circle. And also, each artist has a different style so it is always interesting to see different things and learning new things.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Nothing in life is good luck or bad luck, everything happens for a reason.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4154 Jonesboro Rd.
Forest Park,GA 30297 - Phone: (404)932-9015
- Email: tattoosbydannycruzatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: @tattoosbydannycruz
Image Credit:
Caleb Daniel
@shotbycxd
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