ROCKLAND—Midcoast Sports Exchange, a center for used and new sports equipment and recreational gear, recently moved  from the former KeyBank building in Camden Market Square to the vacant sporting goods store, Olympia Sports in Rockland's Harbor Plaza.

Justin Hovey, the store's owner, said the new location has more than doubled the store's inventory space.

"In the last space, we were constantly moving seasonal inventory up and down the stairs and re-arranging things," he said. "It was getting to the point where it was becoming unmanageable and causing people who were coming in to shop anxiety."

Now, with every square inch of the store dedicated to almost every indoor and outdoor sport imaginable, all of that shuffled inventory now has a dedicated area in the new store.

Now, sports gear (both previously owned and new) for all four seasons is out in full view and Hovey said customers are excited to see the store expand.

His business model has always been to make equipment and gear affordable for locals.

"I want people to find a good, used option for a sport or recreation and a great deal of reasonably priced new gear that keeps everyone in the equipment that they need. We're starting to build more relationships with more vendors so we can offer new things."

He cited a recent example of someone bringing in a used frame backpack with a hole in it, which he typically would not accept as all consignment items must be in clean and useable shape to be accepted in his store.

"I learned about a bunch of kids who go out on a once-a-year backpacking trip and who needed gear but can't afford a frame pack that's hundreds of dollars. So, I saved this one for him, $25, a nice frame pack that will get that kid out to the woods and function well, even though it's got a hole in it."

Hovey's “Play it Forward” program works with Midcoast athletic directors and coaches to outfit a student on the team who doesn’t have the money to buy new equipment or clothing. 

"It's my favorite thing we do," he said. "I love going out to watch their games and seeing the products from our store being used—they have no idea who I am or where it came from."

For spring and summer, Hovey has areas of the new store dedicated to fishing poles and gear, camping, tents, bicycles, weights, pickleball, watersports, sailing, golf, motorcycle jackets and helmets, and many more items that may be hard to find elsewhere.

"We'll hopefully expand into equestrian items and dirt bikes—items that didn't have enough room to display before," he added. "Anything you use or wear to recreate, ask me about it."

People in the area who have sports equipment or recreational gear (no firearms) to sell on consignment may contact Hovey at info@mserockport.com

For more information visit: www.mserockport.com or on Facebook

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com