View Full Version : Denver Gun Shops
Is there any in Denver?
Does Denver have anything against gun shops?
More importantly if I wanted to start a home based gun shop in Denver where can I check for issues against it? I know one can have a home based business with a permit. But I can't make heads or tales of the zoning laws.
Any help would be appreciated and thanks in advance.
Call the city and ask. Tell them what you want to do and whomever answers the phone in whatever department you get will transfer you to the correct place. That's what I do when I have questions about my businesses and ideas that I want to do.
Sounds like you have dealing with the city down to a science.
Great-Kazoo
02-21-2017, 22:17
Sounds like you have dealing with the city down to a science.
It's not hard to do, once you know which dept to call. I would suggest you tell the city it's going to be a mail order based FFL. There are a few issues you may come up against. The first is zoning, especially when the NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING sign goes up. Does the area you live allow Home Based business? Second is the CLEO who you need to get on board.
https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-development-services/help-me-find-/zoning-for-your-project.html
https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-business-licensing-center.html
Up here i'm gtg as a Mail Order Only, if i was to apply. I was told the zoning people would be harder to deal with, then the Police Chief and ATF . IF there's 1 person who objects to the zoning request change, they will deny the application. Start with them, they might not require a Public Hearing for the home business.
Which sucks since you can run a home based Grow Operation with less hassle. Even though it's still a fed crime to do so.
The firearms blog did a series on home based ffl. Cant find the series, but here is the link to their site.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/
.455_Hunter
02-22-2017, 00:54
Off the top of my head...
Scotties on East Colfax (odd little shop- did get a good deal on a NIB first year Bearcat)
M.W. Reynolds near the 16th St Mall (high-end sporting guns only- no handguns. Recently moved from downtown Englewood)
Bass Pro at the old air cargo terminal (Northfield Stapleton for you recent transplants)
Are you talking about IN the city of Denver, or the greater metro area?
As far as the Denver metro area, off the top of my head I can think of 5280 in Arvada (I-76 & Sheridan area), BluCore in Lakewood (Wadsworth and Jewell), Warhorse in Littleton, one in Lakewood/Wheatridge the name and location escape me, and not sure if the shop formerly known as Green Mountain Guns is still in existence.
colorider
02-22-2017, 13:08
Reloading Zone, Ark, Bristlecone, tom and joes, just a few more for ya in the Lakewood wheat ridge area.
I was thinking about in Denver City limits. I know there was Frank's Guns on Broadway where I bought my first glock. But he's not there anymore.
I was thinking about in Denver City limits. I know there was Frank's Guns on Broadway where I bought my first glock. But he's not there anymore.
Well considering Denver is fairly anti-gun, I wouldn't exactly trust a gun store within the Chitty and County of Denber.
Great-Kazoo
02-22-2017, 17:42
Well considering Denver is fairly anti-gun, I wouldn't exactly trust a gun store within the Chitty and County of Denber.
He's asking about store front FFL's but wanting to do a home based one. 2 different deals when it comes to ..............Zoning. Doesn't matter how many store fronts there are, it's the zoning board that calls the shots. Not forgetting the neighbors have a say too. .
And I was thinking that if there isn't a store front FFL in Denver County maybe its because they are so anti-gun that they managed to push them all out? And maybe I should think about property somewhere else? Lakewood has a few empty shops and would love the tax revenue raised from an honest business. I was just thinking Denver might not cut their nose off to spite their face when it came to our evil, evil guns.
He's asking about store front FFL's but wanting to do a home based one. 2 different deals when it comes to ..............Zoning. Doesn't matter how many store fronts there are, it's the zoning board that calls the shots. Not forgetting the neighbors have a say too. .
Does the ATF allow that? I thought I had read somewhere that new FFL applicants had to have a physical storefront and cannot do in-home business anymore. I could be wrong...
And I was thinking that if there isn't a store front FFL in Denver County maybe its because they are so anti-gun that they managed to push them all out? And maybe I should think about property somewhere else? Lakewood has a few empty shops and would love the tax revenue raised from an honest business. I was just thinking Denver might not cut their nose off to spite their face when it came to our evil, evil guns.
I wouldn't give my hard earned money to Denver when there are better municipalities around the area that are much more friendly to deal with- like Lakewood, Arvada, Golden and Littleton. You could also look into unincorporated county areas- such as Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, etc. They might have easier licensing and ordinances than municipalities. Something to look into.
Take this thread into consideration in your decision.
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/161471-member-owned-shop-that-I-think-was-off-58th-and-washington
hurley842002
02-22-2017, 19:36
Take this thread into consideration in your decision.
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/161471-member-owned-shop-that-I-think-was-off-58th-and-washington
That's what I was thinking, doesn't seem like a good time to get in the business.
If you don't need a storefront, and you're willing to bear the license fee for the convenience (and burden), I say go for it. Just do your research and legwork.
sent from me
Are you talking about IN the city of Denver, or the greater metro area?
As far as the Denver metro area, off the top of my head I can think of 5280 in Arvada (I-76 & Sheridan area), BluCore in Lakewood (Wadsworth and Jewell), Warhorse in Littleton, one in Lakewood/Wheatridge the name and location escape me, and not sure if the shop formerly known as Green Mountain Guns is still in existence.
Oh I can assure you Green Mountain is still doing quite well. Arguably has the best used/consignment section in the metro area. Been giving them my money since they were off Asbury and Kipling behind the Safeway lol. When I'm looking for older or used stuff it's the first shop I go to.
When I moved here in early '84 my circuit would include Dave Cook at the end of the 16th St Mall, Gart's Sports Castle, The Gun Room (on Broadway owned by Bill and Lola Molnar then, moved it to Lakewood. Couldn't pay me to go in to the existing shop in Lakewood today)-had Ikey Starks at Sports West rebuild a very beat up Colt 1911 that now lives with an old friend of mine, George Orndorff (?) also did some nice revolver work for me. I never knew how Bob French could find anything in his little shop just south of 3rd Ave on Broadway but he could haha. Another friend, now retired, actually worked at Swenson's right before he went through Denver's academy.
Actually the last time I was in Green Mountain (couple weeks ago) they had an Ikey Colt Gov't in the consignment case. He always stamped his barrel bushing and would also mark somewhere on the inside of the slide.
Man, I feel like an old guy!!
Great-Kazoo
02-22-2017, 21:10
Oh I can assure you Green Mountain is still doing quite well. Arguably has the best used/consignment section in the metro area. Been giving them my money since they were off Asbury and Kipling behind the Safeway lol. When I'm looking for older or used stuff it's the first shop I go to.
When I moved here in early '84 my circuit would include Dave Cook at the end of the 16th St Mall, Gart's Sports Castle, The Gun Room (on Broadway owned by Bill and Lola Molnar then, moved it to Lakewood. Couldn't pay me to go in to the existing shop in Lakewood today)-had Ikey Starks at Sports West rebuild a very beat up Colt 1911 that now lives with an old friend of mine, George Orndorff (?) also did some nice revolver work for me. I never knew how Bob French could find anything in his little shop just south of 3rd Ave on Broadway but he could haha. Another friend, now retired, actually worked at Swenson's right before he went through Denver's academy.
Actually the last time I was in Green Mountain (couple weeks ago) they had an Ikey Colt Gov't in the consignment case. He always stamped his barrel bushing and would also mark somewhere on the inside of the slide.
Man, I feel like an old guy!!
That's the truth.
Oh I can assure you Green Mountain is still doing quite well. Arguably has the best used/consignment section in the metro area. Been giving them my money since they were off Asbury and Kipling behind the Safeway lol. When I'm looking for older or used stuff it's the first shop I go to.
When I moved here in early '84 my circuit would include Dave Cook at the end of the 16th St Mall, Gart's Sports Castle, The Gun Room (on Broadway owned by Bill and Lola Molnar then, moved it to Lakewood. Couldn't pay me to go in to the existing shop in Lakewood today)-had Ikey Starks at Sports West rebuild a very beat up Colt 1911 that now lives with an old friend of mine, George Orndorff (?) also did some nice revolver work for me. I never knew how Bob French could find anything in his little shop just south of 3rd Ave on Broadway but he could haha. Another friend, now retired, actually worked at Swenson's right before he went through Denver's academy.
Actually the last time I was in Green Mountain (couple weeks ago) they had an Ikey Colt Gov't in the consignment case. He always stamped his barrel bushing and would also mark somewhere on the inside of the slide.
Man, I feel like an old guy!!
I also feel like you're an old guy.
;)
I also feel like you're an old guy.
;)
Remember; old age and treachery beats youth and enthusiasm :D
Anyone know what happened to Bob French? He sold me all of my Buckmark magazines for less then a big box store like Garts. However, he did sell my brother a sig 226 magazine for 75 bucks during the bad idea from Clinton, gun ban.
Saw Bob for a couple of years at the gunshows after he closed the store. He did know airguns too! He helped me track down a S&W 64 NY-1 2" when I was collecting those NYPD guns. No idea if he's still around.
I can't seem to find any info on if my house can have a home business or not. At least on their website anyway.
Anyone out there want to help me get an OK from the city? Whether it be looking up zoning or call them? Is there a lawyer in the house?
From what I have read on this (I looked into it a couple years ago) the ATF requires that you have all of your zoning approvals, all required business licenses from city, county and state, and your business entity set up before they will even look at your application for an FFL. They rarely approve an at home FFL but I believe you can apply at one location, get it and then move. As for the city of denver, go to the city website and look up the phone number for the business licensing dept and make the call.
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Great-Kazoo
02-25-2017, 23:13
Anyone out there want to help me get an OK from the city? Whether it be looking up zoning or call them? Is there a lawyer in the house?
Clearly you have not contacted the Zoning Dept to see what's allowed and what's not, reference post #4. The info's there. You want to get a home based business going, you need to do the leg work. Why don't you take responsibility, instead of asking others to do it for you?
Contact Us
Department of Excise and Licenses
Wellington Webb Building
201 West Colfax Ave.,
Room 2.H.9, Dept. 206
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone
Dial 311 (or 720-913-1311 if outside Denver)
Fax: 720-865-2881
From what I have read on this (I looked into it a couple years ago) the ATF requires that you have all of your zoning approvals, all required business licenses from city, county and state, and your business entity set up before they will even look at your application for an FFL. They rarely approve an at home FFL but I believe you can apply at one location, get it and then move. As for the city of denver, go to the city website and look up the phone number for the business licensing dept and make the call.
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He's already been given links to the zoning dept.
Clearly it may look that way. But I was really lost in their website/phone/hoops hell. Thanks.
I may have thought getting the city on board would be an easy part but it may be the first in a long line of hoops.
I may have thought getting the city on board would be an easy part but it may be the first in a long line of hoops.
Count on it. Denver is leftist. They don't like guns, and certainly will resist you every step of the way.
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