Parallel to Ashland’s Main Street is a less traveled one-way street, featuring the back entrance to popular spots like the Downtown Perk and Uniontown Brewing Company and approximately half a dozen other small, locally owned and operated gems.
Some like HoldFast Tattoo and Substance Church are relatively new to South Street, while others like Hair Connection and Linder’s Sports Bar and Grill have long had a presence in Ashland. All are proud of their downtown locations.Â
In the coming weeks, Ashland Source will highlight many of these South Street businesses and discuss how revitalization efforts in downtown effect them.Â
ASHLAND — When Holdfast Tattoo opened on the second floor of a South Street building in 2012, Downtown Ashland was very different than it is today.Â
Instead of the bustling, neighborly environment that currently exists with more than a dozen small, locally owned businesses and restaurants along Main Street and the surrounding area, the tattoo shop’s owners John Kyser and Joe Crossmon recall dozens of empty buildings in need of serious renovation.Â
“There wasn’t much going on down here. Most of these buildings were still empty. There wasn’t a brewery. There wasn’t a yoga studio going in. There wasn’t Clothes Minded up the street,” Crossmon said. “I think Downtown Perk was here; they’ve been here for a little while. But that was like the only building that had been renovated.
“Now that things are happening, this is becoming more, more and more traveled. So it’s been good for us.”Â
A few years ago, a change in their landlord’s vision for their second floor studio prompted the tattoo shop to move. Holdfast Tattoo relocated a short distance away at 101 South St. West in Ashland, this time as the sole building tenant.
Their new landlord built out the space to better fit their needs, and then, Crossmon and Kyser set out to further renovate the space with fresh paint, new trim and updated ceiling and floors. The multi-talented artists decorated the walls with their paintings and drawings and repurposed materials to build a shelf, desk and the unique lighting they imagined for their shop.Â
They created their ideal space, and for as long as they can, they hope to stay.
Both Ashland natives, Crossmon and Kyser are especially supportive of the ongoing downtown revitalization. They enjoy seeing investment in the heart of their city and trying new food offered in the area. Their employee, Aubri Miller mentioned visiting the nitrogen ice cream shop along Main Street.Â
But they wonder if — as tenants — the revitalization will ultimately result increased rent prices — the kind that could prevent them from staying in the space they’ve grown to love.Â
“I think that’s a real possibility. It’s exactly what could happen,” Kyser said.Â
It’s a reality they’ve accepted. There’s no bitterness about the revitalization; they’re excited and joke in light of their possibly unfortunate scenario.
“We’ll be nomad-ing around town,” Miller said, prompting laughs from her employers.Â
If the worst would happen, both Kyser and Crossmon expressed a desire to find a way to stay in downtown anyways. Â
“I’ve always just liked the downtown area, as far as seeing people walking around and just being able to be like, you know what? I want to go get a coffee and just walk up the street. Or to go across the street to the brewery and get lunch,” Crossmon said. “I’ve always enjoyed those things, (especially) in the summertime, it just feels a little bit more lively than say like a shopping plaza or something.”
No matter where they’re located, they feel confident customers will follow.Â
“We were busy in a warehouse on the second floor with the weirdest entry and bathroom situation you could ever see, and we were booked out for six months straight,” Crossmon said.Â
He and Kyser take pride in the clean, professional and comfortable environment they provide for customers. The co-owners met at another tattoo shop and decided to partner for their own shop.Â
Ever since, Kyser says they are just grateful to do what they love for a living.Â
