Tattoo shop celebrates five years of 'madness' with upcoming hot rod and bike show
It's a sunny Friday afternoon in July. Sinners and Saints Tattoo owner Roger Chouinard is at his post behind the front desk of the Depot Street shop.
In the waiting area, two twenty-something year old men finalize their decisions for their next tattoos, a middle-aged woman plans a tribute tattoo to her children and grandchildren, and another young man anxiously flips through books of artwork.
Chouinard attempts to take bites of a just-delivered sandwich - a late lunch - without much luck. The phone keeps ringing. Copy machines are giving artists a hard time. Questions need to be answered.
Chouinard keeps smiling and cracking jokes. It's all in a day's work.
"We're very high volume," he said of the shop.
Despite opening in a tumultuous economic climate, Sinners and Saints has thrived through what Chouinard calls "five years of madness."
The shop's fifth birthday was in May, and last week, Sinners and Saints completed an expansion into adjacent space in the 37 Depot Street building, which added a bigger waiting area and two more rooms for artists - a good thing, since the shop just added artist Mike Fresh to its roster.
But Chouinard wanted more than just an expansion to celebrate year five.
"I wanted to throw a big party in town with all my friends," the Wareham native said.
He didn't want anyone - especially loyal patrons of the shop - left out of the celebration, and thus the idea for the Fender Bender hot rod and bike show was born.
In addition to hot rods and fast bikes, the family-friendly event will feature a wrestling show with big names like Jimmy Snuka and Brutus Beefcake, Chouinard said.
At least 50 vendors will be in attendance, offering everything from face painting to T-shirts and hand-made jewelry.
The Fender Bender is scheduled for July 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Band Shell in Onset. Admission to the party is free.
Chouinard said dozens of local businesses sponsored the event, which he hopes will become annual.
"No big business was involved," he said. It's "all locals."
Attendees should park at the lot across from Lopes Field on Onset Avenue, Chouinard said.
Trophies will be awarded for the best truck, hot rod, chopper, muscle car, concept car, 4x4, bobber (motorcycle using old, second-hand parts), stock car, and rat rod. There will also be an "almost made it" trophy and an award for "best in show."
Chouinard recommends that anyone wishing to show off their car or bike arrive early in order to get a prime spot. Vehicle registration is from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Seven of Chouinard's own vehicles will be on display.
"I'm getting there at 5:30 a.m.!" Chouinard joked. "I'm going to get the best spot!"
For more information about the Fender bender, call Sinners and Saints Tattoo at 508-295-1366.
And if one party isn't enough to celebrate Sinners and Saints' birthday, an after-party cookout will be held at Gilda's Stone Rooster in Marion beginning at 6 p.m.