Downtown Jefferson City has its share of secondhand stores, but its newest one will cater to a currently underserved clientele.
Mamasboy, to be located at 205 E. High St., will offer "recycled" clothing for boys, said owner Tanya Lankford.
"I have three sons who are 5, 6 and 9. The challenge has always been to find them clothing that's good quality and pre-loved," she said. "There's a girls' boutique downtown, and then there's Snob Shop, which is girls, women and men - no boys."
The Xchange Boutique offers re-sale items for the whole family, but moved its store from the main blocks of downtown Jefferson City to 830 E. High St. this spring.
Lankford recently moved from Florida to Jefferson City, her husband's hometown. Her experience in retail management at a children's clothing store has prepared her to go into business for herself, she said.
Mamasboy will accept used clothing from customers several times a month, offering store credit based on a software determination of its value. Sizes will range from birth to ages 16-17.
"Boys every six months during the ages of birth to 6 or 7 go through a size change. That's also the time when they're the roughest on their stuff," Lankford said. "You can go to Goodwill, and that's great for play clothes - but very rarely can you find something that's unstained or not missing a button."
Being a mother of three boys and talking to other mothers of sons has taught her the idea that parents care less about how their sons are dressed is largely untrue.
"They want them to have the same amount of attention and care," Lankford said.
Mamasboy will also feature a "chill zone" with beanbag chairs, movies and coloring books for children at the back of the store to allow parents easy, relaxing shopping time.
Lankford estimates the store will have a soft opening the week before Christmas, then reopen permanently with the new year.
The retail space at 205 E. High St. is the former home of High Handsome Men's Exchange & Consignment Clothiers, which moved to 114 E. High St. in March. High Handsome owner Steve Gilpin had planned to open a used sporting goods store in his former location; but when he was unable to hire a full-time employee to work at Re-Play Sports, he opted to operate the sporting goods store himself from within High Handsome.
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