BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
A good way to get the word out about your business is to bring a Major League Hall of Famer to your small town.
For many, the announcement that Andre Dawson would be signing autographs at Ryno’s Fine Sports Collectibles was the first time they’d heard of the establishment located inside Banko Overhead Doors, at 214 S. Lake of the Woods Rd.
At the time, Ryno’s Fine Sports Collectibles had only been officially open for business for a few weeks.
With the help of his parents, Kevin and Betty McClure, Banko Overhead Doors owner Ryan McClure decided to turn his growing collection of sports collectibles that he was accumulating in his office into a retail shop that he could manage while he also oversaw Banko operations.
“I started collecting 12 years ago or so,” Ryan said. “And then I moved back here nine years ago to help with the door company.
“I spend most of my time at work, rather than home, so I started putting everything in my office.”
The collection drew attention from customers coming in for other services.
“They’d ask, ‘Are you selling it?’ And I’d say, ‘Sure,'” Ryan said.
Ryan’s collection started out with just baseballs from Hall of Famers.
“And then I got into original photos, and helmets, and then bats and jerseys,” he said.
Soon, Ryan found himself with over a thousand items including baseball, football, basketball and hockey memorabilia.
“There’s some golf in here, too,” he said.
Ryan said his passion started as a way to feel like a kid again while he was buying. But, as a business owner, he has learned that it’s less about what he likes or finds interesting and more about what the customer wants.
To appeal to a wide variety of potential customers, he has stocked his shop with collectibles from Yadier Molina, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Jack Brickhouse, Ron Santo, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Emmitt Smith and Joe Montana, among others.
“There’s over 150 autographed baseballs in here right now,” he said. “Over 50 autographed jerseys and autographed bats.
“There’s a wide selection for everything. And if people don’t see what they want here, I can usually find it pretty quick.”
Ryan works with a network of reputable vendors who make sure that customers can find what they are seeking.
In the near future, McClure will also offer t-shirts, hoodies, crew necks and various other Mahomet-Seymour items.
Without the help of his parents, though, the venture may not have come together so quickly.
“They helped set everything up, make the benches and organize them,” Ryan said.
Ryan is excited about the possibilities a sports collectibles store could bring to Mahomet.
Sharing those experiences, whether it is the excitement of meeting an idol, purchasing a gift for a loved one or walking down memory lane with another sports fan, Ryan knows that his business will be built upon interaction.
Without competition nearby, he believes Ryno’s Fine Sports Collectibles could attract customers from outside the Village while also tailoring the store to collectors in town. He also has his sights set on bringing big-name athletes, such as Dawson, to Mahomet.
The Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer will be at Ryno’s Fine Sports Collectibles on May 2, 2020 to sign autographs.
Ryan said he’d like to bring athletes of this caliber to Mahomet a couple times a year. He already has his sights set on a Cardinal player to draw in the Cardinal fans.
To purchase tickets to the Dawson signing, visit the Ryno’s Fine Sports Collectibles Facebook page.
Ryno’s Fine Sports Collectibles is open during Banko Business hours, weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
