SundownRider
Member
If the building will be tall enough to prevent someone getting onto the roof easily, skylights are great sources of natural light that really help when looking over a gun, especially a used one for scratches and signs of wear.
Gun shop layout
- Thread starter Winter Borne
- Start date
- Status
lobo9er
Member
one of these should be in the middle of the room on display
lobo9er
Member
http://world.guns.ru/machine/m60_02.jpg
AN M60 doesnt hurt either. I would visit a place near by once in a while just to look at either of these too. couple that with easy going employee's you got yourself a biz
AN M60 doesnt hurt either. I would visit a place near by once in a while just to look at either of these too. couple that with easy going employee's you got yourself a biz
lobo9er
Member
lobo9er
Member
A very cool gun store is in Buffalo N.Y. Upstate Guns but I think its the Quantity of cool stuff that makes the store so cool not the actual layout
The best plans in the world won't come to fruition if you can't get the site use approved by the local jurisdiction. There was to be a new range going in here in Prince William county and the Board of Supervisors passed approval unanimously (sort of suprised us!). Unfortunately the fellow running the deal passed away and the deal died with him. But at least we know that such a business can get approved here!
When you have a permit approval hearing scheduled, it would be a good idea to let VCDL know. Members will show up at the meeting and support you.
When you have a permit approval hearing scheduled, it would be a good idea to let VCDL know. Members will show up at the meeting and support you.
Black Knight
Member
How about a raised floor behind the counter (maybe 4 - 6 inches) so the counter employees can see over the first row of customers. This way they could see any possible trouble or shoplifting easier. Another idea is a gun vault for guns on lay away or special order. A customer lounge would be nice but should have a way to monitor the customers for their safety. We don't want anyone showing their loaded handgun to someone and it going off unintentionally. Come to think of it a safe unloading area would be advisable as well. This could be outside the store or a ballistically secured room inside.
Winter Borne
Member
Thanks Zoom, I am a VCDL member as is the potential owner too. He's also wired into Prince William and Richmond politics too so that should help out as well, but we are only in the very beginning stages of pre-planning for the moment.
Are you going to Mack's service tomorrow?
mk
Are you going to Mack's service tomorrow?
mk
hey +1 on the gunsmithing area from page 2. needs to be well-ventilated. if possible, even have a 'hood' for spraying all the solvents while cleaning guns. room for lots of tools and work benches.
another possible addition is a reloading area. if you sell/stock powder and primers, you may want to make sure you can do so safely and follow any special regulations. further, you may consider offering classes on reloading, just like classes on shooting and safety. the additional requirement for the reloading classes, which are quite popular in my experience, is that you'll need a space to permanently mount some presses and other gear.
or maybe something like a large, heavy, square bench with presses on 4 sides, that you can put in the retail space most of the time, but wheel into the classroom when you need it.
edit: one other thing... if you plan to do much mail order/internet sales then you might consider quite a bit of back-office, order-fulfillment space. heck, maybe even a loading dock if you're doing a lot of ammo or component sales. you'll need space to pack and ship all that stuff, not to mention receiving it.
another possible addition is a reloading area. if you sell/stock powder and primers, you may want to make sure you can do so safely and follow any special regulations. further, you may consider offering classes on reloading, just like classes on shooting and safety. the additional requirement for the reloading classes, which are quite popular in my experience, is that you'll need a space to permanently mount some presses and other gear.
or maybe something like a large, heavy, square bench with presses on 4 sides, that you can put in the retail space most of the time, but wheel into the classroom when you need it.
edit: one other thing... if you plan to do much mail order/internet sales then you might consider quite a bit of back-office, order-fulfillment space. heck, maybe even a loading dock if you're doing a lot of ammo or component sales. you'll need space to pack and ship all that stuff, not to mention receiving it.
Winter Borne said:
Did you say strip mall?
This opens a huge security issue for the store that I'm not sure anyone has considered. Someone could easily come through a less secure store and enter the gun store through "the back way", i.e. a loading dock, back enterance, or even through a wall of another store and into the gun shop.
I'm not worried about the guns, per se, since they should be locked up. However, there is ammo, a ton of accessories, the gunsmith area (tools), and anything not locked up or tied down that could vanish rather quickly.
This is something you should consider suggesting to the owners if they really do decide to operate in a strip mall storefront.
Kris
Landpimp
Member
we operate out of an old bank building, which came with the vault, I wish the store had more sq ft but it is what it is.
we have tall ceilings and the owner happens to be a big game hunter(africa stuff) and its all over the upper walls.....kinda cool.
we have tall ceilings and the owner happens to be a big game hunter(africa stuff) and its all over the upper walls.....kinda cool.
stonecutter2
Member
The local shop has it's foundation raised up so that you must walk up a short flight of stairs to go through the front doors. That prevents the "stolen car rammed into building to gain entry" problem, and looks nicer than concrete barricades.
The front doors go into a small entryway, with another set of double doors. That entryway is used for postings about events etc.
I would guess that a ramp would also be required for wheelchair access, if stairs were required to walk in.
In my local shop, the countertops are around the corner, away from the front doors. Plenty of room for someone to walk in, get to the cash register/gun displays, then get out. Ample opportunity to see who's coming in, or going out. This also allows a nice big window behind the counter, because the shop is raised up - nobody can look in the window easily...they'll only see the ceiling.
Wide aisles are nice for easy handling of long guns while others are walking through, too.
The front doors go into a small entryway, with another set of double doors. That entryway is used for postings about events etc.
I would guess that a ramp would also be required for wheelchair access, if stairs were required to walk in.
In my local shop, the countertops are around the corner, away from the front doors. Plenty of room for someone to walk in, get to the cash register/gun displays, then get out. Ample opportunity to see who's coming in, or going out. This also allows a nice big window behind the counter, because the shop is raised up - nobody can look in the window easily...they'll only see the ceiling.
Wide aisles are nice for easy handling of long guns while others are walking through, too.
berrieberrie
Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2006
- Messages
- 59
OK, I'll play - since we're not really spoilt for choice here in Europe, it's always nice to imagine "what if". So, from a customer's point of view:
- wall-mounted long guns: can be looked at by several people at the same time and does not have to be taken down only to see which brand and type of gun it actually is (and it's already been said: it looks cool).
- handguns in high display cases (something like this): most stores display their handguns in cases under the counter, so you always have to bend over to look at them and you're in the way of other people.
- separate cash register and/or paperwork place (ideally with a "dedicated" clerk)
- parking space: maybe not an issue in the US, but we've got shops (in the Netherlands, for example) where you have to carry your stuff for almost 3/4 mile on the main shopping drag through the crowds. Not fun, nor safe.
- wall-mounted long guns: can be looked at by several people at the same time and does not have to be taken down only to see which brand and type of gun it actually is (and it's already been said: it looks cool).
- handguns in high display cases (something like this): most stores display their handguns in cases under the counter, so you always have to bend over to look at them and you're in the way of other people.
- separate cash register and/or paperwork place (ideally with a "dedicated" clerk)
- parking space: maybe not an issue in the US, but we've got shops (in the Netherlands, for example) where you have to carry your stuff for almost 3/4 mile on the main shopping drag through the crowds. Not fun, nor safe.
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