Cheap tattoos for a priceless cause, local businesses unite to raise funds for Tower District fire victims

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Since a fire forced three businesses on Van Ness near the Tower District to shut down, one by one, neighboring businesses have reached out to help and raise funds to get their neighbors back on their feet.

Spokeasy Public House , The Labyrinth Art Collective , and Jazzy’s Jeans N Things and Herbal Products have all been forced to shut down, but since Sunday, business after business has stepped up to help get them back on their feet, starting with Resistance Tattoo .

Tattoo shop owner J Esparza says businesses on Olive Avenue are quickly recognized as part of Fresno Tower District, but he feels a sense of responsibility to help the businesses that neighbor him at the Tower District annex known as Van Ness Village.

“When something happens here,” Esparza said. “This is an unfortunate thing. It’s a fire, everybody comes together and says, hey, somebody could use some help.”

Esparza hosted an event Sunday offering patrons $60 tattoos, so long as the tattoos were two inches by two inches and came from a pre-approved flash sheet or a patron’s own design.

Esparza says four artists from different shops came by to lend a hand and all artists worked for free, barring tips, meaning all proceeds went to the businesses affected by the fire.

Resistance Tattoo was supposed to open at noon, but demand was so high that Resistance Tattoo opened its doors two hours early.

Patrons Lex and Ace drove from Visalia to get tattooed by Esparza personally and donate to the shop’s cause.

“I like tattoos and these guys [Resistance] are alright,” Lex said minutes before his kneecap and finger tattoo. “We have been here since 12:15. It is what time? 5?! 5:30, but it was worth the wait. Especially to work with J.”

Lex says the worthy cause, affordable price, and his close relationship with Esparza made it a no-brainer; he says the drive and the wait were worth it.

The fundraiser was so successful that throughout the next few days Resistance will still be tattooing patrons who donated that the artists were unable to get to the day of the event.

Businesses like Sour Milk, Ampersand, and Moto have all followed Resistance Tattoo’s example and have organized a series of events to benefit Spokeasy and The Labyrinth.

Ampersand and Moto will host a “Beer-Float Collab” on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sour Milk will host a DJ set on Sept. 28, a live band on Oct. 4, and a comedy show on Oct. 11.

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