ASHTABULA — A new clothing store, MPG Apparel, is set to open on Main Ave Dec. 1, offering a selection of urban wear and athletic apparel.
Founder and owner Jacob Payne, also known by his rap name Max. Pain the Great, said the store, located at 4826 Main Ave., will cater to the hip-hop community.
The store will offer men’s urban wear, including matching jogging suits, jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, jeans and shoes. The store will also carry men and women’s athletic wear through his brand, Replay.
Payne’s journey to opening his own storefront has been anything but typical. Starting out by selling clothes from his house or car, he has built a following through social media and pop-up shops.
“I really wanted a sales job, something like a car salesman or working for Verizon Wireless,” Payne said. “But because of my background, no one would give me a chance for me to provide for my family.”
His uncle, Tim Moore, encouraged him to explore the world of clothing sales, and took him to New York to meet different vendors.
There, Payne found the first steps toward building what would become MPG Apparel.
“I didn’t have much money, but I took a chance,” he said. “I worked with a manufacturer I met online, we designed the pieces over FaceTime, and I used the pre-order money to fund my first batch of clothes. I was able to take a little and turn it into a lot.”
With the new store, Payne is excited to take his business to the next level.
“I wanted to start the store because it’s just been expanding from my house, online and doing pop-ups,” he said. “It’s been doing really well and I had finally met the opportunity. Everything started lining up in the right places for me to be able to do it.”
MPG Apparel is set to be a destination for the local hip-hop culture, which Payne believes has been lacking in the area.
“There’s nowhere to get a nice matching jogging suit that matches up with the shoes,” he said. “I wanted to start providing that for our community.”
Payne also plans to offer a variety of shoes, from Nike Air Force 1’s and Timberlands, to more niche pairs such as Travis Scott Mochas and Black Cat Jordan 4’s.
With the grand opening set for Dec. 1, Payne has big plans.
He intends to offer free haircuts for children, courtesy of local barbers Steven Perales, Cristian Anthony and Kaleb Mckinney of KkutzOfficial.
He will also provide music.
“We will maybe do a little show, a little 10-minute set, do some emcee’ing and just shouting everybody out and thanking everybody for coming,” Payne said.
He said his supporters are excited, especially those who started with him on this journey.
“They’re glad to be part of my growth” he said.
Beyond business, Payne is deeply committed to giving back to the community.
“I’m hoping to give clothing to kids who don’t have it,” he said. “I’m hoping to give back in that kind of way”
As for the future, Payne is optimistic about the growth of MPG Apparel.
He hopes to expand his offerings and even host events in the store, including music video shoots.
“I’m hoping that artists can come here, do their videos,” Payne said. “I hope to give back in that kind of way. There’s a lot of talented artists that need to come together. It’s really divided and I hope that I can bring people together.”
MPG Apparel looks to be more than just a store, but a new hub for local hip-hop culture.
“There’s nothing really that people can come to and get geared up and fresh for the weekend,” Payne said. “We got a lot of shows and events. I wanted to start providing that for our community.”
Newcomers can expect to find exclusive urban wear and a personalized shopping experience.
Payne said he can also make deliveries. His number can be found on the storefront’s banner.
MPG Apparel will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
