Denver Defense in Denver, NC abruptly closing it's doors

I just took a look at their website. I haven't been back to the store. I was thinking of taking a ride over there since they are supposed to have their act together. I was a member, but there haven't been any debits. The day they closed there should have been and there wasn't. So I assume my membership went "POOF"!

I see that they are back to Guntry Club pricing. For the range and membership anyway.

I might as well take a ride down to Blackstone and take my 12 gauge firearms with me.

Thanks @Button Pusher ! I haven't been yet, but their website didn't make it sound like they were going to be picky about the ammo other than requiring buckshot. So hopefully the 12 gauge firearm will be cool.
 
They sent out an email last week that they were selling all guns below dealer cost. This week it was an email for 50% off range.

Edit: actually it was a text and ends today, June 14th. I went back and looked at it again. Hate I missed a weekday shoot for 50% off.
 
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I got a text Denver Defense had new stock so I went by last week. Still no accessories of any kind. No knives like before, no t-shirts, no ammo that was once in cases, no this, no that. Matter of fact between me and the other guy we had more guns than the store and it’s new inventory. I understand wanting to hit people with a marketing blitz but it was disappointing to see an almost bare retail store.

No one on the shooting range. Three employees and us two men. When I came by Point Blank there were a dozen cars at 15 minutes earlier. Instead of trying to market a subpar gun supply I would focus on re-establishing the range and the classes. It’s just my own opinion. I hope they haven’t given up but the same people seem to be less inclined to engage customers. Maybe it’s because there is nothing to sell but range time.
 
I've been seeing they are closed for the last bit. Maybe since the first of October iirc
 
The signs on the door say they're undergoing reorganization with new management....
 
Now that’s 2 shutdowns. Ranges are not doing the business they were in the gun scare years. It’s a great facility. Top notch. With no store sales there is no way in hell range sales will keep that mortgage and employee cost paid.
I pass them weekly. There is rarely anybody there. Even weekends are very slow.
 
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BlackGun said:
Now that’s 2 shutdowns. Ranges are not doing the business they were in the gun scare years. It’s a great facility. Top notch. With no store sales there is no way in hell range sales will keep that mortgage and employee cost paid.
I pass them weekly. There is rarely anybody there. Even weekends are very slow.
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I pass it at least twice a day going to and from work. They opened at the tail end of the "boutique gun owner" era targeting the Lake Folks who weren't really ardent gun owners but had money. They're gun owners who aren't really invested philosophically.

It's a different landscape now.
 
Word on the street is that the ATF shut them down, not sure if that's the case but that's what the local LGS is saying.
 
They supposedly had some questionable gun sales and/or record keeping practices. Something about not being able to show who they sold some firearms to or where they went in general.
This from someone who used to work there. TIFWIW
 
Does gun sales issues shut down the range portion also? Why would it not just keep them from gun sales yet make the range available? Sounds like they are headed for permanent closure.
 
Thin Red Line firearms was where it was being discussed. I don't think just having a range would keep the doors open but I could be wrong.
 
stickman61 said:
Thin Red Line firearms was where it was being discussed. I don't think just having a range would keep the doors open but I could be wrong.
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Not that place. It’s a state of the art range and meeting center. Big money went into the range, lounge, and classrooms. I’m not sure constant range time could ever pay for such a mortgage note.
 
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spittinfire said:
I wish they'd open back up. They're 15 minutes from my house and I still have a gift card.
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BlackGun said:
I still have a gift card as well. I love shooting there.
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They're only 2.5 miles from me. It was a good, convenient place to go if I had a spare hour to go shoot.

We ought to get a local meetup going. I know there's some folks just up the road in Mooresville too.
 
DD was very convenient for me as well. I'm just glad I didn't plunk down for a membership PIF. I certainly hope someone picks up the property and is maybe open about it. All I ever heard about owners was "ownership group". If you walk in to PBR and ask for Mike Denney (sp?) I'm guessing that there's a good chance he'll come out if he's there. I've been there when he was working the range and seemed to be a decent sort. Same at LKN.

I've gathered in my relatively short time involved in firearms that many prefer a face to a name. I've got some other suggestions as well. Mainly in marketing and pricing.
 
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SPM said:
They're only 2.5 miles from me. It was a good, convenient place to go if I had a spare hour to go shoot.

We ought to get a local meetup going. I know there's some folks just up the road in Mooresville too.
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I'd be game for getting together. I haven't been shooting for a while so you have to promise not to laugh. Where else do you shoot? I go up to Spring Roads sometimes.
 
A half dozen or even more of you local folks could open up just the range and retail business and leave the gun sales alone. People will pay to shoot when there's nowhere to go. They do here in this part of the world. 3 indoor ranges all doing good.
 
Latest, as of 8 min ago per the Denver Defense FB page:

"We all believed that we would be open soon and that Drew would be the new owner. We have a name that has been registered with the Secretary of State and Lincoln County.

Quite simply it just wasn't to be. The building is closed and I'm not hopeful that we will reopen anytime soon.

When the business is reopened it will be under different ownership and with a new name and a new FFL.

I cant tell you what the new owners will honor and what they will not.

If you have a suppressor or other item in the building we will be there Monday and Tuesday from 10 am till 6 pm. After that I cant guarantee that anyone will be there. So if you have items in the building come by and pick up you items.

I cant honor gift cards or refund any memberships. That's not possible at this time.

Hopefully new ownership will be able to help with those issues.

Thanks for all the support that you have shown through out the past 5 years.

Bud"
 
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SPM said:
Latest, as of 8 min ago per the Denver Defense FB page:

"We all believed that we would be open soon and that Drew would be the new owner. We have a name that has been registered with the Secretary of State and Lincoln County.

Quite simply it just wasn't to be. The building is closed and I'm not hopeful that we will reopen anytime soon.

When the business is reopened it will be under different ownership and with a new name and a new FFL.

I cant tell you what the new owners will honor and what they will not.

If you have a suppressor or other item in the building we will be there Monday and Tuesday from 10 am till 6 pm. After that I cant guarantee that anyone will be there. So if you have items in the building come by and pick up you items.

I cant honor gift cards or refund any memberships. That's not possible at this time.

Hopefully new ownership will be able to help with those issues.

Thanks for all the support that you have shown through out the past 5 years.

Bud"
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What about the people who have suppressors there but their stamps haven't come in yet? Monday or Tuesday won't help them.
 
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cubrock said:
What about the people who have suppressors there but their stamps haven't come in yet? Monday or Tuesday won't help them.
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No idea. Glad I'm not in the unfortunate position to find out.....
 
Does anyone else find it ironic of funny that this "abruptly closing it's doors" thread started in May and it's December?:D
 
AR10ShooterinNC said:
Once you have stamp in hand, call them, if nothing, report NFA item stolen to the AFT.
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How are you going to have a stamp in hand since the F4 goes back to the transferor?
 
cubrock said:
What about the people who have suppressors there but their stamps haven't come in yet? Monday or Tuesday won't help them.
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I'm fairly sure they can still be transferred. The SOT status allows the dealer to receive them tax free, but once they have it the SOT can expire and it's not an issue. I do think it depends on how the FFL was set up as to what happens next. Generally the ATF is pretty good about working with customers and dealers to clean up these situations.
 
Can't honor gift cards. Lol

Those things still don't make any sense to me. Here, take my cash that is accepted everywhere and make it so I can only use it at your business, with absolutely no benefit to me.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
 
georgel said:
Does anyone else find it ironic of funny that this "abruptly closing it's doors" thread started in May and it's December?:D
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The original post was from when they were just closed one morning with no warning.

You should look through the story. It's been unreal and weird.
 
BigWaylon said:
I'm fairly sure they can still be transferred. The SOT status allows the dealer to receive them tax free, but once they have it the SOT can expire and it's not an issue. I do think it depends on how the FFL was set up as to what happens next. Generally the ATF is pretty good about working with customers and dealers to clean up these situations.
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I wasn't worried about ATF in my question. It sounded like someone's hands were being washed after Tuesday.
 
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cubrock said:
I wasn't worried about ATF in my question. It sounded like someone's hands were being washed after Tuesday.
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Agreed.
It's legal to transfer...but you gotta be able to find the right person(s).
 
I really wish I had the capital to get involved in that place. It's a great facility and a good location in a market that is growing like crazy.
 
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spittinfire said:
... a market that is growing like crazy.
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I haven't seen any numbers either way, but it seems most of the people moving to (being imported to) NC are not into firearms or even adamantly against them. The folks at the few ranges and stores I have been to lately seem to feel it is fairly stagnant. Then again I live in Charlotte and this place has officially gone to sh*t after the last few elections.
 
Exile_D said:
I haven't seen any numbers either way, but it seems most of the people moving to (being imported to) NC are not into firearms or even adamantly against them. The folks at the few ranges and stores I have been to lately seem to feel it is fairly stagnant. Then again I live in Charlotte and this place has officially gone to sh*t after the last few elections.
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I meant the Denver area, it's growing like mad right now. Charlotte sucks and all the people are filtering out this way because its still quiet.
 
Any word on the status of Denver Defense. I’m sure the bank will hold onto it at a break even sale until they realize it’s not going to sell at asking price. Anybody seen it listed by a business broker?
 
BlackGun said:
Any word on the status of Denver Defense. I’m sure the bank will hold onto it at a break even sale until they realize it’s not going to sell at asking price. Anybody seen it listed by a business broker?
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Other than the last message I posted in December.

I would imagine it's still a very expensive property to get one's hands on. They seemed to spare little expense when building it.
 
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