Another One Bites the Dust - Reloading Zone

[thebolt]

It's difficult for small firearms shops to stay in business. Everyone wants to get the lowest possible price so they shop on the internet and give the local gun businesses a very small percentage of their business. The small businesses can't compete with internet pricing and they can't stay in business when they are not supported. People need to support their local gun stores or their only choices will be bAss Pro Shop and their absorbed chain store.

[MrPrena]

The owner said the building was sold to a company out of california, and the rent was going from 1700 to 7000 a month. Shame, the have great prices in guns and ammo.

1700 to 7000 is ridiculously crazy bump.


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As people said, I think most of stores started from home, and get a warehouse or storefront when their house is flooded with inventory. I would not bet a farm/ranch just on a gun store. It has to be 4-in-1 or 5-in-1 type of business. Gun store+training+shooting range+gunsmith+hire barista and sell coffee*

I would not own a gun store without a shooting range.


* semi joke, but gun&coffee. coffee is a great way to get people into the other side of store like barnes and nobles.

[battle_sight_zero]

1700 to 7000 is ridiculously crazy bump.

Been shopping there on a regular basis for a couple years. The owners are great people and they have been talking retirement for a while. It was obvious to me that they knew how to run a gunstore. Their inventory in my thoughts was in the top 2 of the front range and the service was number 1. The rent increase came after they sold the business and expididdited the transfer to the new owners. Would not doubt the rent increase was done to clear them out. In closing I feel very sad about this. This is the 3rd shop that I frequented that is closing their doors but I sense the owners are happy with moving on. As for me I will be moving to the land of Pronghorns this summer. I am sure I will have challenges to obtain the service I received from the Relaoding Zone but I am hopeful for less nonsense and being able to buy standard capacity magazines and maybe even do a private transfer like the old days.


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As people said, I think most of stores started from home, and get a warehouse or storefront when their house is flooded with inventory. I would not bet a farm/ranch just on a gun store. It has to be 4-in-1 or 5-in-1 type of business. Gun store+training+shooting range+gunsmith+hire barista and sell coffee*

I would not own a gun store without a shooting range.


* semi joke, but gun&coffee. coffee is a great way to get people into the other side of store like barnes and nobles.

[Ridge]

1700 to 7000 is ridiculously crazy bump.

For real. Sounds like a "Fuck you, I want you gone" price from the new owners.

[battle_sight_zero]

Stopped by today. They are pretty much cleared out on mags but plenty of deals. Many firearms marked down a bit and they have emptied some displays. Could be worth a look to some of the members here. However will agree with the post above that this could be a big FU. California landlord at that. Maybe they will open up a smoking accessory shop in its place?

[Great-Kazoo]

For real. Sounds like a "Fuck you, I want you gone" price from the new owners.

OR what someone offered them, based on location

[colorider]

Talked at length with Mary Jo the owner last year and also about 6 months ago. A year ago she was ready to get out of the business and retire. I do believe the term was “sit on my porch and drink margaritas”

[Martinjmpr]

1700 to 7000 is ridiculously crazy bump.


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As people said, I think most of stores started from home, and get a warehouse or storefront when their house is flooded with inventory. I would not bet a farm/ranch just on a gun store. It has to be 4-in-1 or 5-in-1 type of business. Gun store+training+shooting range+gunsmith+hire barista and sell coffee*

I would not own a gun store without a shooting range.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This x eleventy brazillians. No gun store is going to stay open on the basis of "good will" alone, I don't care how good their reputation is.

Bass Pro could be owned by Sarah Brady and sell products made in Iran with 100% of the profits going to North Korea and people would still shop there if they can beat the LGS price by 5%. That's just the way it is in retail.

The way to stay in business is to offer something the big-box stores or internet can't: A place to shoot.

[FoxtArt]

A store marketing to women just needs to double their prices, then markdown by 50%.

A store marketing guns has to beat the best price in town, online, gunbroker, at yard sales, auctions, and internationally, because those old bastards will row a canoe to New Zealand if they can save $6.00 on the purchase price.

True fact: Once saw a guy bitch that the sales tax should be refunded from the total at a gun store because it wasn't included in the advertised price in the flyer. WTF? WHAT ROCK DID YOU COME FORTH FROM SON?

[lpgasman]

For real. Sounds like a "Fuck you, I want you gone" price from the new owners.

Exactly! If I had to speculate, probably going to put a pot shop in there.