Red Raven Tattoo has new location

Red Raven Tattoo & Art Gallery recently opened its doors at its new location. Red Raven was previously located at 126 S. Washington St. before moving to 20 E. Market St. where it has been open since July 18. Owner Josh Randell said he has strong family ties to the area going back to the 1800s. He added that he is a history buff and when the building went up for sale he didn't bat an eye. "We moved mainly because I like the visibility of this location and it is closer to the river. I’ve always liked how the front of this building looked with the stone," Randell said. "This building was built in 1820, and was the location of Tiffin's first city hall and I believe it was also the location of the first church in Tiffin as well." Tattoo artists David Wyant and Jess Dardano said they are happy with the new building. "This is a much better fit for what we want to do. This building was meant to be a tattoo place," Wyant said. "It’s nice we were able to start over from scratch and design the business exactly how we wanted." Dardano added, "It already feels like home in here. I’m definitely proud of the shop." Randell said the business looks "really cool" at night with the exterior gooseneck lighting and they are in the process of putting together a biography of the building detailing its history. He also liked the location because it's one of the first things people see when they come downtown. "There’s more traffic here and there’s a more relaxed atmosphere at this point of downtown Tiffin. Red Raven is one of the first things people see when coming downtown. It’s Kear’s (Speed Shop) and then us.” Randell's local ties and love of history are a huge influence on his desire to give back to the community, he said. "We are all about supporting local businesses and people. We try to support anything local as much as humanly possible," he said. "We try to be involved with the community and give back as much as we can." He said over the years, Red Raven has given money to the Tiffin Music and Art Festival, noting the business's auction proceeds from last year all went to the festival, as well as benefits for families that fall on hard times. He said he personally is involved and is a member of the marketing committee for the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce. He said he has worked with Tiffin University in the past by helping marketing students work for Red Raven and other local businesses to help create marketing plans. "We are very supportive of both colleges in anything and everything we do," he said. "We’re looking forward to getting ready for college students coming back and being able to work with the colleges." Randell said the business wants to be a positive influence with what they do. "There is still a little bit of a taboo in the area when it comes to tattoos," he said. "We want to create a more positive image with what we do." The business will continue to have an art gallery and host the same shows they always have, he said, but they will be more private now. "We went from having 6,000 square feet to about 2,500 square feet," he said. "Instead of hosting multiple artists, we will be showcasing one artist at a time." He added that tattoos and art go together well. "Tattoo culture has really evolved and is truly about the art nowadays," he said. "It's about giving people what they want to have for a lifetime. I love all kinds of art and different kinds of art. They both go hand in hand." He said the art gallery is free to the public and the business encourages people to visit. He said Red Raven has clothing to sell exclusively at the store and Wyant and Dardano have a clothing line — HMVP Clothing — that is sold at the store as well as Washington Street Outfitters. Local artists have things for sale there as well, he said. Randell said his artists were a huge reason Red Raven has done well over the years. "I’m very proud of my artists I have here," he said. "Without them, this business is not possible. They deserve a lot of credit for the success of Red Raven." Randell commissioned local artist Chuck Ruffing to sculpt a large raven for the store that is to be installed soon. "A raven is the theme of the shop. This sculpture will be a great centerpiece for it," he said. Randell said the business is about expanding the arts in the community. "Art is something that can draw emotion from a person. Whether it's good, bad, sad or ugly, art has that power to illicit emotion out of a viewer. It's a powerful thing and we are always trying to encourage a growth of the arts in our community," he said. Randell said the art gallery typically displays various local artists, but it does sometimes have national displays. A proud moment for the art gallery was when they were able to showcase the Frankie San Collection last year, he said. "It was the first time the collection had ever been displayed in a gallery," he said. Randell said the community has been supportive since Red Raven’s establishment in 2013 and he hopes to continue to grow that relationship. "We like focusing on art and being able to help others," Randell said. "We are very proud of the community support we've received in the entirety of our time being here. At the end of the day, we just want to be a positive element to the community and we strive to be a place the community can be proud of." Randell said Red Raven’s hours have changed. Theh store is open noon-7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday and Monday are by appointment. To schedule an appointment or get more information, contact Red Raven at (419) 443-0300.