BizBeat: Jefferson City

News Tribune: September 2nd, 2018 by Philip Joens

The longtime owner of High Handsome Men’s Exchange & Consignment Clothiers sold the business to another local business owner this week.

Owner Steve Gilpin opened the men’s consignment clothier in 2012.

The store at 114 E. High St. sells gently used men’s apparel in brands like Ralph Lauren, Joseph A Bank, Brooks Brothers and Burberry.

Gilpin ran the store six days a week by himself. In 2016, he moved the store from its original location at 205 E. High St. to its bigger existing location because he began having to turn away merchandise.

Today, it’s profitable, but Gilpin plans to use his time to move on to another job and to spend more time with his sister in Rolla.

“If I wasn’t here, the door was locked,” Gilpin said. “I just wanted someone to take it who was younger who could take it to the next level.”

Tyler Woods feels like he can do that.

Woods serves as a funeral director at his Jefferson City funeral home and also owns a handful of small floral shops around Mid-Missouri. He plans to add a tuxedo rental and dry-cleaning business in the back of High Handsome that will offer tuxedos from seven brands.

A cigar shop also will be added, Woods said. Later, he may add a shoe-shining service. Woods wants the business to feel as masculine as possible.

“This is a great business, and it just would’ve been bad for it to go,” Woods said. “We’re just going to add a couple things where a man can come in and feel like it’s truly a store for him.”

About a year ago, Gilpin began reaching out to loyal customers of his to see if they had any interest in buying the store. Woods said the business will fit well into his portfolio, and he may be able to refer some business to the store from his funeral business.

Nothing will change about High Handsome’s consignment process, Woods said.

For now, the store’s weekly hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, which will remain the same.

Gilpin worked his final day at the store Saturday. Over the past few weeks, he said, customers stopped by to thank him for his work.

“I may not remember your name, but I’ll remember your size,” Gilpin said.

New Pizza Hut coming to Capital Mall

The Capital Mall plans to build a new Pizza Hut restaurant near the mall, according to building permits filed with the City of Jefferson.

The restaurant will be about 1,800 square feet, according to the building permits. Jefferson City contractor Septagon Construction will serve as the general contractor for both exterior and interior construction of the restaurant. Septagon Construction President Wes Doerhoff said work should be finished by the end of the year.
Pizza Hut has other locations in Jefferson City at 1431 Christy Drive and inside Target at 735 W. Stadium Blvd.

The pizza chain’s current Capital Mall location sits on the south side of the mall’s parking lot at 3530 Country Club Drive near Fuji Japanese Steakhouse and Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. The new location at 3731 W. Truman Blvd. sits on a previously vacant part of the mall’s parking lot near Sears’ former location and JCPenney.

Pizza Hut Regional Manager Joe Shockley said the new restaurant will replace the existing mall location.

“It’s a new building that’s going to keep us in Jefferson City for many years,” Shockley said. “It’s going to be a modern look for Pizza Hut.”

In an emailed statement, Capital Mall General Manager Adam Addison said: “We are very excited about the new Pizza Hut currently under construction and appreciate everyone involved that made this possible.”

Read the full article at newstribune.com.