‘Caturday’ on Aug. 18 will mark new era for Canalside Tattoo

Canalside Tattoo is moving from Main Street to 627 West Ave., a site that will become the Fantasy Factory. Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo, wants to move into the space in early August.

MEDINA – Canalside Tattoo has been a big fundraiser for the Cat by Cat, Inc. organization in Medina.

Canalside raised $10,000 for the group in 2022, and then $18,000 last year.

Shannon Blount leads the local Cat by Cat efforts.

This year’s event on Aug. 18 already is off to a big start. There are 12 tattoo artists offering to do tattoos on Aug. 18 at $100 each. All of the slots have been claimed already. They sold out fast once the online portal opened on July 11.

Canalside has 12 artists volunteering their services on Aug. 18, up from nine last year. The tattoo team includes Shawn Ramsey, Tyler VerCruysse, Andrew London, James Christian, Matt Rolfe, CJ Cruickshank, David Jednat, Christopher Coronado, Bree Sunshine, Melissa Freeborn, Jade Ellen and Derrick Buyea.

There will also be a basket raffle and body piercings available, with all proceeds going to Cat by Cat. This year’s Caturday also will feature face painting by Lainey Freebern and caricatures by Isabel Ramsey.

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, said Shannon Blount, leader of the Medina team.

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

The Caturday event also will give the public a chance to see Canalside Tattoo’s new home in what owner Shawn Ramey is calling the “Fantasy Factory.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Shawn Ramsey, shown last month, said the former AJ’s Play Date site will give the tattoo artists and their customers much more space and privacy.

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 in 2020, giving him 3,500 square feet.

Ramsey said he would have been content to stay put. But the former AJ’s Play Date building became available at 627 West Ave. It offered Ramsey even more room and a chance to create the “Fantasy Factory.”

Ramsey said Tom and Nancy Mack were excellent landlords of his Main Street location.

“But the opportunity presented itself to own my own building,” Ramsey said. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Medina contractor Tim Miller has been doing the bulk of the construction work, putting in partitions, an office space, a gaming room for Ramsey and staff, and making other changes.

File photos: These are some of the cat-themed tattoos done by Canalside Tattoo during the Caturday fundraiser in 2022.

The interior space will have partitioned space for tattoo artists, giving them their own work area and providing more privacy.

“Each station will have its own unique vibe,” Ramsey said.

There will be more display room for Canalside merchandise and to showcase local work from artists and crafters. The Fantasy Factory also will a gym/workout room for Canalside staff, as well as a kitchen and break room.

Canalside is the drop site for the toy drive during Medina’s Parade of Lights. It is a serving stop during Ale in Autumn and Wien About Winter.

But “Caturday” is Canalside’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Even though all the tattoo slots are taken, Ramsey and Blount said people can donate baskets for the raffle, or just make a donation towards the cause.

For more on Cat by Cat, click here. For more on the Caturday fundraiser, click here.