MANSFIELD — There’s a new tattoo shop in downtown Mansfield’s Carrousel District. Mainstreet Tattoo Studio II will open next to Fourth Street’s Buckeye Bakery by mid-July.
The studio will offer tattoos, body piercing and “high-end jewelry.”
Owner Ashley Herron, who also owns Body Piercing by Ashley, is excited to bring the tattoo studio’s reputation to a growing area.
“It’s (downtown Mansfield) up and coming. I really like the foot traffic — there’s more going on here than in Ashland,” Herron said. “I’m excited for the change.”
Herron said she looked at numerous locations in the downtown area before landing on the vacant storefront next to Buckeye Bakery. The 1800 square-foot layout is perfect for what she wanted to do, she said.
Herron and a crew of helpers, have been gutting the inside of the location since the middle of May. So far the crew has discarded three dumpsters worth of demolition.
“It will have the same look and feel as the studio in Ashland,” she said. “But we want to show as much of the original design as possible.”
Before moving in, Herron said the brick walls were covered with plaster. They peeled it off to reveal the old brick and used a sand blaster to remove leftover mortar. The wooden floors were also covered with tiles — so the crew has worked to remove them to reveal the original flooring.
The idea to expand into Mansfield came to Herron in January, when she noticed how busy the Ashland location had grown. So she said she went up to the owner and pitched the idea.
“And here we are,” she said.
Herron has been piercing for 16 years with Mainstreet Studios in Ashland. She started as an apprentice then moved up to a full-time position, until launching her own body piercing studio within Mainstreet Studio. She recently began the process to becoming certified through the Association of Professional Piercers.
“When I get approved, that means we’ll have the best equipment, the best jewelry, the best everything,” she said.
Mainstreet Tattoo Studio II is expected to open by mid-July, or when the remodeling is finished. Hours will be Monday through Saturday noon to 9 p.m and closed on Sunday. Those interested in its services are encouraged to make an appointment — walk-ins will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Herron said she will hire three tattoo artists, front counter staff and an additional piercer.
