I moved back to this town in 72 and soon found the LGS. It was a new operation in an old one room school building on the edge of town. The owner was a retired fireman and WWII vet. His wife took care of the paperwork and accounting and his teenage son helped PT. In addition to guns, they had archery, fishing, reloading equipment, and fishing boats and motors.

I would visit most Saturdays just to look. The first gun I bought there was a High Standard (Dan Wesson). I soon traded it for a Ruger Security Six I still have. I bought a RCBS JR press and dies there when I upgraded from my Lee Loader. Part of my deal was the son would come to my house and assist me in installing and getting the dies adjusted. It was his first of many trips to my house. The owner and I put on many hunter safety clinics in the 70's and 80's. The son and I have spent many hours shooting together.

I have a folder full of bills of sale, trades and transfers I have done over the past almost 50 years. I became a friend to the family, not just a customer. The shop has grown over the years, but the boats and motors went away years ago. He called me not long ago to buy 1K rounds of 9mm. He needed some so he would have some ammo to sell along with guns. I also traded him small pistol primers for large, so he would have some.

The father passed away a few years ago and his widow suffers from dementia. The grandson now works there. My now good friend, the current owner, is in his mid 60's. His wife has retired from her job and he is ready also. He feels this is a good time as his inventory is way down due to the current situation. The grandson is not interested in taking over as he does not want to put in the hours a retail operation demands.

They plan to lock the door by November 1. We were going on our annual pheasant hunting trip to SD as a retirement trip. I have chosen not to go to SD this year due to the virus. However, my friend and his son are still planning to go.

My friend's FFL is good for 3 more years and he is going to move next door into a small building to do mail order, transfers, and get rid of what inventory is left. He may run a small operation selling reloading components a couple of days each week also.

I suppose I can still hangout in the smaller building, but it will be different. Small LGS's are becoming a thing of the past.

It’s hard to compete with internet pricing while keeping the lights on.

My local guys are apparently happy being a drop zone for the parcel services, as their new prices are often not competitive.

I’m happy paying a bit more for local availability, as well as the option of service. 20% is a bit too much to swallow, so the transfer fee ends up theirs in lieu of a sale.

I did purchase 2 long guns from them, even though it was about 5% more to do so, to keep biz local. I’d like to buy more.

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- Post No Bills -

Yep! The mom & pops are really struggling. No new guns to sell, no ammo, the occasional used trade in is it. Like I said before how long can they survive selling Hoppe’s No. 9 and cleaning patches? Everybody is trying to save a couple bucks so the profits are slim.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

The smaller independent dealers cannot complete with the big box stores or the internet. The profit margin simply is not there. We only have access to certain distributors and most of them have nothing available except firearms over $1000. They have to diversify or close the doors. If I wasn't a pawn shop I'd be out of business.
Jewelry is where I make money.

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Super Snooper

My LGS was in business when my Dad was a kid. He and I both bought our first deer guns there. My son got his first there as well.

Third generation now owns the place and is retiring. He has no kids that want to continue in business. The offer to sell got no response.

Its not just a little local gun shop. If you wanted a model XXX in YYY caliber, you went there and they had it. I would guess $millions in inventory.

They had a 6 month sale with prices reduced every week. The doors closed just before last Christmas.

My local guy died and the family wanted nothing to do with the business. After getting repaired firearms back, the entire inventory was auctioned off. The building is up for sale. Very sad situation.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

It is a shame that main street USA is gone. Our LGS was the hardware as well. Howlands, was the name. My dad bought an Ithaca model 37 there in the 50's and my grandpa bought his guns there in the 30's and 40's. Long gone now. I remember buying BB's and 22 caliber LR @ .50 for a box of 50. It was old school where you bought nails by the pound. I remember the huge scale and the clerk putting the bag over the end of the tray and pouring them in. The creaky wooden floor, high shelves and that hardware smell. Been a long time since I thought about that.

This precisely why I have never bought at a big box store or the internet. Some people are so busy trying to save a few bucks that they don’t realize that when the mom and pop stores are gone, prices elsewhere will go up. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot.

And just because smaller stores have no ammo or guns doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shop there. Accessories is where the money is.

Hope the gentleman is happy in retirement.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I've spent a lot of time in small gun stores. Some were OK & some were great. Our local gun shop now is run by a complete moron that thinks & acts like Lurch. Needless to say I don't due business with him. But he is the one remaining gun shop in the county. Too bad all of the old guys are gone.

It's not just the mom-and-pop LGS that are closing...

When I first started motorcycling, almost 50 years ago, most dealers were small businesses. I bought my first bike from a local family-owned shop that had been a long-time Triumph and BSA dealer, and had decided to add those new Japanese brands in the '60s. By the mid-1980s, the dealer was closed, forced out of business by one of those very same Japanese brands, which decided that their old, rustic showroom didn't fit their corporate brand image anymore. Lacking the money to build a new, modern showroom, they closed up shop...

Tha same thing has been happening in the music business. Local record stores are almost extinct, replaced by online streaming and Amazon.

Luckily, my local LGS is doing fairly well, thanks to some good sales practices and knowing their local market.

What with shortages in ammo, reloading components,and of course firearms it's a wonder that more small local shops are still open. We have at present only one local gun shop whom I've had the pleasure of dealing with. I've bought a few handguns,couple rifles and one shotgun over the years. Yeah I could have gotten them cheaper somewhere else, but they have always done right by me. When Wally world started being PC and stopped selling pistol ammo they stepped up and started haveing a larger and more varied selection. Besides they tend to keep a good selection of knives and especially Benchmade ones. I'm a sucker for a good folder anyway. Frank

I don't think the big box stores have put my friend out of business. He has had a great year. He always had a good inventory or could get something for you. I think he made good money on used guns. His son is very computer savy and they have a large on-line business. He sold a lot of guns on-line that he didn't need to buy or have in the store. A person bought on-line and the gun was shipped from the distributor.

As I said in my first post, the building was old. He has been broken into several times in the past years. It is impossible to harden the building. He has an alarm and cameras. However, they keep trying.

I don't think he tried to sell the business. The son just wasn't interested in the long hours.

I live in a twin city situation of over 125,000 people. There is another gunshop with an indoor range in a new building. It is more "tactical" oriented. They also have reloading equipment. I just don't see me hanging out there.

I have to admit, I do make purchases on-line.... sometimes that’s the only way to find a particular gun that I am seeking. However, if buying local, I always go to the small business gun shops. When I go to a big box store, it feels like I talk to a “General Sporting Goods” person at the gun counter. At a smaller gun shop, I feel like I talk to a person who really has a passion for firearms and would talk to me even if I didn’t buy a gun. That’s why I like to purchase in the small stores. In fact, some of the nicest customer service people I have ever met have been in family owned gun shops.

Sometimes life sucks. This is an example of one of those times.

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Stay protected my friends.

Sad day when that happens! Lost mine a lot of years ago. To date I have never purchased anything online, there still are a few local shops open yet.
Just made a purchase at one Thursday night. Father started the business about 35 years ago in small town not far from me. When I was in the area I would always stop.
Today the son has taken over the business and moved outside of town in an old bowling alley. So now today he is running the gun shop and an indoor shooting range. Very nice facility and well stocked.
Just purchased my Glock 42 from them.

I agree with you, never an Amazon or other internet, guy.

My favorite LGS closed about 20 years ago.
Not only is buying online cheaper, there is a much bigger selection.
You can get the gun you want, not the one that is close that is in stock.

Plus when you purchase from a big warehouse the gun has not been fingered and dry fired a bunch.

I try to support my lgs regardless of slightly higher prices
those guys were/are there for me when i had questions or needed advice
They know me by name as i know them, from the range or club council or just shooting the breeze down at the store
Once they are gone , who will i turn to ?

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the rules? there are no rules

This reminds me, I have to pay my membership at the local range.

I don't buy at the LGS. Prices are WAY too high, even before 'Rona. Used firearms are 20-40% higher than what I can get online. New is sometimes retail+. I'm not paying those prices and it's not on me to to keep them in business. I'll get better deals at a pawn shop or online.

As an example, I was looking for a dog leg mount for a fixed carrying handle AR. I found a used mount, no box, while browsing at a LGS for $125. A couple of weeks later I found the same mount on GB, new in box, for $21 shipped. At $100+ mark up I'd call that price gouging only I didn't get gouged. They still have it 8 months later. The same shop was selling ammo cans for $35!

Either adapt or go extinct.

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Thread Killer.

I have been fortunate to come across a relatively new gun shop run by a young couple in the town where I went to college. It's amazing how when I'm cruising Interstate 80 on the way to Ohio my car seems to turn off the freeway and head for that shop. They pick up some interesting used firearms that I ended up acquiring and have competitive prices on reloading components. Every time I stop in I come out with at least a can of powder. Turns out that was a good thing I did the way things are going now.

Even though l live 200 miles from the shop, they recognize me as the guy from Gettysburg and welcome me. I just hope we will see more of the younger generations establishing gun shops like the ones we liked to patronize.

Yeah, I kinda have to agree with you. Last year they tore down the middle school I attended, and a couple of months ago they demolished the hospital I worked at all through high school and college. It's tough to see change, but the truth is people get old and technology changes commerce. Buildings get out-dated and have to be replaced.

There is very little loyalty left when it comes to who you buy from in this country. Low price wins. That's just reality. The LGS has to learn to adapt to changing market conditions. There is no reason they can't develop an on-line presence and sell their used guns to a national clientele vs. just the locals who wander in on their day off. I've been looking for a 629 or 29 and the only one I can find is an old beater in a pawn shop. The guy is asking $1200. Big chip out of the grip, dented crown, blueing loss, dull bore. I just found one here on this site for $895 that is pristine. So which one should I buy?

It made me sad when I saw them tear down my middle school, but in reality they just ridded the community of an old fire hazard. Times change and people get old...

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What could possibly go wrong?

A new small gunshop opened in my little town last year and has been doing well. Leans toward the black plastic a little but that is what sells. I did find a nice Model 64 Winchester there so its not all boring stuff. The owner is a youngish (40s) guy who has a Dad with a gunstore in Florida. He is personable and internet savvy. He does transfers, and will order something for you rather than try to pressure you to buy what is in the case. I’ve sold three guns there on consignment and he pays up right away, which seems to be a novel approach in my experience.

I think the old model of a cluttered shop with a spittoon, a couple of regulars pontificating at the counter, and a grumpy owner talking down to new customers is on the way out. Change to survive.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

You described the old LGS' that have closed, and the new ones that have opened in Roanoke.

It is sad to say, but,
I am SO GLAD to see the grumpy old owners dying off, or retiring,,

The new guys are hungry, helpful, and I enjoy spending money with them.

Max, would this happen to be Smiley's?

Yes, it is Smiley's

Hadn't heard that. Too bad.