There is a new place in town for kids of all ages to go.
Osborne’s Consignment and Game Room on W. Seminary Street has been open for only a few weeks, but the owner, Robbie Osborne, is already pleased with the community’s reaction to his business.
Osborne said opening the business was something that happened “by accident.” He came to help his wife fold clothes one day at the laundromat next door and noticed the empty building that once housed a dry cleaners.
“I wanted to do something for the kids,” he said, “and for us older kids. We don’t have a place to go.”
He added the consignment because it was something Owen County didn’t already have.
Items range from toys to antiques. Anyone can bring in an item to sell. It will stay in the shop for 30 days or until it’s sold, and the shop keeps 10 percent of what the item sells for.
“You don’t see the same thing every time you come in,” Osborne said.
Another service provided through the shop is help listing items on eBay. Osborne said he thinks it is another good opportunity for people because eBay provides more potential buyers.
“There might be 50 people here (who could buy the item), but 5,000 on eBay,” he said.
Osborne said he believes the First Baptist Church Family Life Center is really the only other place kids can go to evenings and weekends.
He said he remembers being able to go to pool halls as a kid and wants to have a pool tournament at the game room. There is also a television “to watch ball games,” and sodas and chips for refreshment.
“If (the kids) are here, they’re not in trouble,” Osborne said.
From Monday to Thursday the hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On weekends the shop stays open until everyone leaves. Osborne said he stays until everyone has left and that last weekend the crowd didn’t leave until about midnight.
Though many of the visitors to the shop are younger, Osborne said many of the patrons have been around 40 to 60 years old.
“I figured it would be overrun with kids,” he said.
This is Osborne’s second business, he owns and operates Osborne Lawn Care. Like the lawn care business, he keeps this new business in the family. His wife, Rita, his father, Jackie, and his children, Robbie Jr., Tommy and Candace – as well as Candace’s husband Joe Young – all play a part in the shop.
“I can’t believe how good it’s going over,” Osborne said.
He hopes the business will continue to grow in the future. He hopes the consignment takes off and he can split the two businesses – have a game room in one building and a consignment shop in another. He wants to offer more pool tables and more video games. But for now, he’s happy with how things are.
Just the other day, Osborne said, a grandmother dropped her grandchildren off to play games while she went to get her hair cut. He said he hopes to see more things like that happen.
“I want it to be a place where any kid feels welcome,” he said.

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