Flash sales and a great cause was all it took for people to come out and support the community of Van Ness Village inside of Tower District.
J Esparza, tattoo artist and owner of Resistance Tattoo, hosted a fundraiser on Sept. 22 to cover the rent and loss of wages for his fellow neighbors who were affected by a fire.
The Labyrinth Art Collective, Spokeasy Public House and Jazzy Jeans N Things & Herbal Products were hit by a fire that started in the back alley on Sept. 16. The damages of the fire will keep these businesses shut down until further notice.
Esparza held this fundraiser because he knows the struggle of having to shut down a local shop. Many local businesses were temporarily closed due to the pandemic, so this was not a new concept for him.
“During COVID when we had to shut down, it hurt our small business,” Esparza said. “A Walmart or a Home Depot can take that kind of hit. We can’t take that kind of hit.”
So when he saw his neighboring businesses close down, he immediately knew he needed to help. He highlighted the importance of recognizing when fellow owners are in trouble.
Artists at Resistance Tattoo and artists from other nearby shops came in and worked for free. All proceeds gained went towards the three shops affected.
The shop was supposed to open at noon but due to the high turnout, the artists began tattooing at 10 a.m. to prevent long wait times.
This turnout came after their Instagram post announcing the sale garnered over 30,000 views in four days.
Diana Calderon, a Fresno resident who came to get a tattoo, explained her excitement about the event.
“That’s what it’s all about, like helping one another,” Calderon said. “This completely exemplifies that.”
Calderon’s son informed her about the fundraising event and wanted to help. She admires the small shop owners’ connection to each other and finds pride in Tower District and the city as a whole.
“It’s a small little community and it’s pretty tight, but it’s also still a part of Fresno,” Calderon said.
Guests could choose from a wide variety of pre-designed tattoos or their own designs if it met the size requirement. Calderon decided to get matching tattoos with her son.
Others getting tattoos had a more personal connection to the cause.
Shannon Smith is good friends with Jacob Martinez, an owner of Spokeasy and Alicia Rodrigues, an owner of The Labyrinth Art Collective. She explained how she felt seeing all the people coming together and getting tattoos.
“I love it,” Smith said. “It’s part of the reason we live out in Tower. It’s amazing to see people show up and show out for these places.”
Smith got an eagle eye talisman tattoo which signifies protection for herself and the community.
She cares about the area because of what it offers to people.
“I think it’s a safe space for a lot of people that don’t have other safe spaces to go to,” Smith said.
For those who missed the event but still want to give back to the community, there are multiple ways to help.
Esparza recommends visiting the shops when they open back up and purchasing a ton of their products.
Another way to help is through the donation page. All proceeds will go to covering the loss of wages and operating costs.
