Meet Jillian Johnson | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jillian, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The key to my success is my unwavering resilience—I never give up, and I never allow negativity or outside opinions to derail my progress. Over time, I’ve come to realize that the more you accomplish, the more people will try to discredit or tear you down. It’s almost as if success attracts resistance, but I refuse to let that dictate my path. Instead of letting negativity consume me, I use it as fuel to push even harder.

I’ve faced harassment worse than anything I’ve ever experienced. It didn’t just stay online or among individuals—it even spilled into the University of Denver, where slander and lies were allowed to be posted about me. Journalism students, who should be learning to report the truth, were instead taught to do harm. The university allowed individuals who are actively being sued to spread falsehoods, and journalist Anna Neumann published those lies with a clear bias, taking no effort to verify facts or present a balanced perspective. The article she wrote was the worst piece of journalism I’ve ever seen.

But instead of breaking me, it only fueled me to become even stronger. I’ve had six positive articles written about me, but one article full of nothing but defamation, relying on quotes from people who have physically attacked me—smashing my window, stalking me for months—was the one meant to bring me down. You’d think that kind of targeted harassment would make me give up. Absolutely not. If anything, this battle has only just begun, and I am more than ready for the fight.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an entrepreneur who doesn’t always know how to stop pursuing. My drive has pushed me through every chapter of my career, starting in the automotive industry, where I’ve held a management position for almost a decade and spent a total of 17 years as Denver’s go-to car connect. If you live in Denver and need a vehicle, you already know who to call. This career has not only provided for me but has also fueled my creative ventures.

Art has always been a core part of who I am. Growing up, I spent countless hours creating realism pieces, completely immersed in my craft. Shoutout to all my Denver artist friends who sat with me in art classes back in the day—you know where I came from and who I am at my core. My entire life has been dedicated to both art and music, and now, I finally get to live in both worlds while being part of thriving creative communities.

Beyond my corporate career, I own a tattoo shop and a music venue—two spaces where I get to pour my passion into something real, something I truly care about. These aren’t just businesses to me; they’re extensions of my creativity and my commitment to building spaces where artists, musicians, and creatives can thrive. I’ve worked hard to create a life where I don’t have to choose between stability and passion—I get to have both, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Check out some of my friends’ small businesses—I’d take them over corporate any day. If you really want to experience Denver, you have to visit the spots that give this city its heart and soul. I’d show you the shops that shape our community, the ones that are family-owned and built with passion, like Wax Trax, Fashionation, Benny Blancos, Colfax and Cream, The Melancholy Moth, The Delorean, Chain Reaction Records, Sinners Salon, and Pearl Divers Bar—just to name a few.

Denver thrives because of its small businesses, and it’s up to us to support the people who wake up every day to create these spaces for us. They do it without always knowing what challenges they’ll face, but they show up and make this city what it is. Let’s make sure we keep Denver’s independent businesses alive and thriving.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my tenured employees who have stood by my side through it all—through every challenge, every victory, and every moment of growth. Your loyalty, dedication, and unwavering support mean everything. No matter what, you’ve had my back, and I’ll always have yours.

Website: https://phoenixtattooco.com

Instagram: phoenixtattoocompany