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Working together is nothing new for Lewis Collins and Brian Neff.

For years, the two Liberty Twp. residents have managed Star Point Mortgage and coached the Lakota Stallions, a Christian-based football organization.

Now the two friends are prepping for the Saturday, July 26, grand opening of The Clothing Loft, a 2,4000-square-foot storefront that features a wide array of resale clothing purchased from customers and new items bought from liquidators and sold at discounts of up to 80 percent.

Collins said he approached Neff several months ago with a generous goal in mind.

"I thought there's got to be a way to give back to the community and clothe kids at less of a price," Collins said, nothing the dearth of resale clothing shops in the area.

Neff and Collins are aiming to make The Clothing Loft as kid-friendly as possible, mounting two flat panel televisions in the back of the store for movies and video games and providing toys and puzzles.

"It gives mom and dad a chance to walk around without a 3-year-old kid stuck on their leg the whole time," Neff said.

Collins said the atmosphere provides kids "a little bit of a home away from home."

"If the kids feel comfortable, their parents are going to feel comfortable," he said.

A large flat panel television mounted behind the counter will play a continuous loop of photos sent in by customers and their children wearing clothes purchased at the store.

"Each time they visit, kids can see themselves on 'TV' as a star," Neff said.

As an added bonus, instead of only offering cash to customers selling clothing, The Clothing Loft also will allow customers to build up store credit at a rate of 20 percent more than sale value.

Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, the store's grand opening festival will feature inflatable "moon bounces" for kids, complimentary massages from Everybody's Health and food and drink available for purchase. Free raffle tickets will allow customers to win prizes such as gift cards from Buffalo Wings & Rings, Coffee Beans & Brew, Donato's Pizza, Greek Isles, Jersey Mike's and Midas Automotive, plus a corn hole set from Play it Again Sports and a $100 gas card from Prominent Title Agency.

If you go

What: Grand opening festival

Where: The Clothing Loft, 7230 Towne Centre Drive, Liberty Twp., inside the old Kroger shopping center

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 26