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Destiny USA’s First Tattoo Shop Opens Destiny USA's First Tattoo Shop Opens

By Danyell Monk

The mall storefront of 'Cuse Ink. The doors and windows are clear glass. In the left window there is a sign that reads "GRAND OPENING. August 6th and 7th. Deals on appointment bookings. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to see details! Walk-ins welcome. @Cuse_Ink." Above the store is a sign with a black background and white light-up text in a dripping font that reads "'Cuse Ink."
© 2022 Danyell Monk

DANYELL MONK:
Owner of ‘Cuse Ink, Dashaun Smith, celebrated opening Destiny USA’s first tattoo shop over the weekend. However, Smith’s love of tattoos started long before this weekends grand opening.

DASHAUN SMITH:
When I was a kid I just always thought they were very interesting and no matter what you went through in your life, tattoos would always stay there.

MONK:
Smith opened his first shop in South Carolina in 2015. Originally from Syracuse, he found himself back in the area in 2021 where he re-branded the shop to ‘Cuse Ink. Now with the new mall location, Smith is hoping to help stop the negative stigma around tattoos.

SMITH:
I really just kinda wanna make a change in the tattoo industry and show people that it’s not always a negative image and everything. You know, it’s not all delinquents getting tattooed. We’re a family friendly place.

MONK:
Smith hopes that the tattoo, piercing, and hair services at ‘Cuse Ink will help people feel good about their image no matter who they are. In Syracuse, Danyell Monk, NCC News.

SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) — Destiny USA now has it’s first tattoo shop. ‘Cuse Ink has its grand opening this past Saturday.

Dashaun Smith opened the doors to ‘Cuse Ink’s Destiny USA storefront on Saturday. The grand opening included walk-in tattoo, hair, and piercing appointments.

Smith said this isn’t the first time he’s tried to have a shop in Destiny USA. He originally tried to get a store in the mall in 2019, but the mall denied it.

“They weren’t ready to have a tattoo shop in here. I really just decided on a whim a few months back to try again after the pandemic kinda slowed down,” said Smith.

Renovations at the Destiny USA store were able to get done in just over two weeks. Smith didn’t want to put any appointments on hold, so he got the renovations done quickly.

Smith had customers all day over the two grand opening days. Customers could get any tattoo that could be done in one hour or less so as many people as possible could take advantage of the deal. He specializes in fine line black and gray realism, but he can do any tattoos of any kind. He has gone to many tattoo conventions around the country where he’s won a variety of awards, most of them for black and gray and realism tattoos.

‘Cuse Ink offers even more than just tattoos. Piercing and hair styling services are also offered. Hair services aren’t often found in tattoo shops, but Smith says he thinks hair and tattoos go hand-in-hand.

“A lot of people who get tattoos are thinking about their image. Hair is a big part of your image and it’s an artform,” said Smith.

Smith is excited to have the first tattoo shop in Destiny USA and hopes that it will help people have a more positive view on tattoos.

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