The newest addition to downtown Jefferson City is a business venture as well as a charitable one.
Jefferson City hasn't had a used sporting goods store since the local Play It Again Sports franchise closed several years ago, but that will change when Re-Play Sports opens in a month or so.
The new store will be located at 205 E. High St., former home of High Handsome Men's Exchange & Consignment Clothiers, which moved up the street to 114 E. High St. in March.
High Handsome owner Steve Gilpin will run Re-Play Sports as well, but not to pad his own pockets. The used sporting goods store will be a partnership with the Jefferson City Kiwanis Club, with 80 percent of profits paying the store's rent and electricity and 20 percent benefiting local charities.
"It's kind of a community-based sort of thing," Gilpin said. "Kiwanis Club has been wanting to do this for, like, three years."
Re-Play Sports will accept donations of gently used sporting goods, with proceeds from items donated directly to the store benefiting the Kiwanis Club. But other charitable organizations also can donate items and collect 20 percent of the proceeds, as well.
"Any charitable organizations that want to sell items, we'll gladly accept," Gilpin said. "Then we send them a check every month."
Additionally, individuals who donate items will be welcome to designate a local charity or choose one from a list at the store.
Individuals may sell some "very nice" items on consignment for 30 days, Gilpin added.
Gilpin said he chose to open Re-Play Sports after considering what retail options he believed Jefferson City really needed.
"Occasionally I'll hear people say it's just so expensive to get kids' sporting goods," he said.
Currently the nearest used sporting goods store to Jefferson City is Play It Again Sports in Columbia.
While Re-Play Sports will not be open until late June to early July, Gilpin said he plans to set up a window display so people who attend Thursday Night Live events downtown during June can get a feel for what the store will be like.
Once it opens, the store's hours will be 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.