Canalside Tattoo celebrates new location, $24K fundraising total on ‘Caturday’

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo, celebrated the opening of Canalside’s new location on Sunday, which was also Canalside’s annual “Caturday” fundraiser for the Cat by Cat, Inc. organization in Medina.

Canalside had 13 tattoo artists and other body piercers, as well as 150 gift baskets as part of the fundraiser that raised about $24,000. That is up from $18,000 last year and $10,000 in 2022.

Ramsey purchased the building at 627 West Ave. that was last used by AJ’s Play Date. Ramsey turned the site into the “Fantasy Factory” giving tattoo artists their own partitioned space, providing more privacy.

C.J. Cruickshank, one of the tattoo artists at Canalside, works on a raccoon tattoo for Olivia Miller on Sunday during Caturday under one of the ring lights that provides a more subtle, overhead light. The 13 artists were all booked for at least eight tattoos at $100 each with the proceeds going to Cat by Cat.

Cruickshank said she likes the new atmosphere and work space at Canalside tattoo.

“It is still an open vibe but we all have our own personalized space,” Cruickshank said.

Ramsey opened Canaside in 2015 in a small storefront on East Center Street. In 2017, he moved to Main Street at the former Curvin’s News, tripling his space from the first location. He then expanded next door on Main Street in 2020, giving him 3,500 square feet.

The West Avenue building is a chance for Ramsey to own the building and put in partitions, an office space, a gaming room for Ramsey and staff. There also is more display room for Canalside merchandise and to showcase local work from artists and crafters. The Fantasy Factory also has a gym/workout room for Canalside staff, as well as a kitchen and break room.

Canalside opened in the Fantasy Factory on Aug. 9.

Another tattoo artist, David Jednat of Buffalo, praised Ramsey for the layout and look of the new space.

“You can tell he put a lot of thought and time in it,” Jednat said. “This will work really well for the people. Most tattoo shops are really crowded.”

Besides donating his service son Sunday, Jednat agreed to eat a hot dog for each tattoo he did. He was up to seven by 5 p.m., with more to go. (The Boy Scouts were selling hot dogs as part of the Caturday event.)

C.J. Cruickshank works on the new tattoo for Olivia Miller. Miller said it was her sixth tattoo. She was happy to get the tattoo and have the proceeds go to Cat by Cat. She said her family has benefitted from Cat by Cat and she wanted to give back to the organization.

Caturday is a big fundraiser for Cat by Cat, which locally is run by Shannon Blount.

Cat by Cat seeks to humanely “TNVR” cats through targeted trapping. Cat by Cat focuses on a TNVR model – Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return.

The Medina team cares for about 150 cats a year. Feral or community cats remains in “overwhelming” problem in Medina and Orleans County, Blount said.

The money from “Caturday” goes towards neutering, medications, vaccinations, food and cat litter, and other supplies.

There were six cats up for adoption at Canalside, including “Chocolate Chip,” a 12 week old kitten.

There were 150 baskets up for raffle at Caturday. The basket raffle raised $7,000 of the Caturday total. Ramsey said body piercing netted over $1500 and tattoos raised nearly $15,000.