ashe

Too bad you didn't listen to your dad. Then maybe you'd pay attention when someone is trying to educate you. You might figure out I have a lifetime of knowledge in the subject. There are always anecdotal exceptions to the rule. You need to learn that a few anomalies don't make a trend.

Now, go look up what demographics by age buy the most guns. Then look up what demographics by age own second homes. Then take that percentage from your few anecdotal cases and figure out what you have left.

Heck if I was going to do that I would ask for myself

Since they have plenty money tell them Fins and I are considering a strip club to go along with the new distillery coming to the county. It will have to be out of the towns limits. Let me know.

When I was growing up dad always told me unless you knew all the details to keep your mouth shut. The people I'm talking about that have told me that it is their 2nd or 3rd home and money is not a problem for them

I hope one day I can be As smart as you

I thought you might have a clue what you are doing. I've realized you don't. Boone isn't out grown. The only people trying to move out of Watauga to Ashe are locals that can't afford to buy property in Watauga anymore.

I thought you might have a clue what you are doing. I've realized you don't. Boone isn't out grown. The only people trying to move out of Watauga to Ashe are locals that can't afford to buy property in Watauga anymore. People moving into Watauga wouldn't dare move to Ashe because they think it's still a bunch of backward rednecks. Facts prove me correct. Facts like population, income levels, age demographics, and building permits. History of other failed businesses also prove me correct.

Oh, and let's not forget that gun sales are at an almost all time low right now, to the point that Ellet Brothers went bankrupt. But knock yourself out.

Thanks for all of the input. I do appreciate it. Anyone that has been around this business knows where you make your money and that is ranges. You draw them in with that and I'm not just talking about a 25 yard range with a piece of paper hanging on a post. Once they are in then you can sell ammo and accessories or whatever. I was just hoping to do one in that area. I'm not exactly a when it comes to business I have been around it for many years. When you do the amount of work we do in the Boone area and the customers both residential and commercial tell you they are looking for land in the Ashe and Sparta area that lets you know that Boone has out grown it self. Just spoke with a customer this morning that is leaving Boone and opening a new store in downtown West Jefferson. He has already bought the building and sent me the blue prints for his new shop. I hope that area don't turn in to another Boone but I would like to see it grow. Most of the people in that area are some of the nicest people I have ever been around and I have worked with the public for 38 years. Either way we are going to build one or buy one if it is the right one. I actually got a call from a well known store last night and we are going to talk this weekend.

Ok, I pulled some quick numbers.

The population is 27,000. The per capita income is $20,706 and the median household income is $34,056. 18.1% of the population is below the poverty level. (Btw, Watauga has a population of 53,000 and a median income of $45,000)

Now, Looking at those numbers, out of 27,000, how many people can afford to buy things they don't need like guns? Then out of those, many have no interest in guns. And with the number left, a large portion work out of the county and won't arrive home until after you are closed, so they will do business in Boone. And thanks to the internet, many are going to always think a brick and mortar store is trying to rip them off and never buy anything from you. They will order online and only pay you a transfer fee at best.

You are hung up on reaching your dream and you aren't actually considering the reality.

Let me explain a couple things to you. I've been around and in real estate and construction all of my life in some form. With what I do now, if a project doesn't have at least 7 figures, they can't afford what I do. As an educated individual, it only makes sense for me to keep up on social and economical trends for the areas we cover. The starting point for this data comes from the NAR reports and the US census data. Just because you know a few builders that always have work doesn't mean Ashe is growing yet. The county doesn't even have a decent grocery store, and you think it can support an adult toy store. I suggest you do some checking and figure out how many gun shops have come before you and failed in an area that has a very high per capita pro gun population.

No disrespect but I'm talking about a real gun business with everything that goes with it. I'm not exactly sure where you are getting your info aFiclo but i have worked up in the boone and blowing area for years and now they are moving to ashe. I'm going there tomorrow for the company I work for to look at 2 new business's that are moving in. And builders are staying busy building new homes for the people that are wanting a 2nd or 3rd home in the Mtns

Isn't there a gun shop on Hwy 16 in Jefferson? WJ Hardware still sells guns, right? I don't see people really leaving a business they are already happy with. We target practice in our backyard. Most locals do the same or go to a relative's or friend's house to do the same.

You retiring from the education game and going all in on guns and ammo?

Not Don's. The other one that was there for years.

Unless it just closed its still open the wife and I ate there a few weeks ago

Joe, there's some nice property through there, but how many people do you think will drive all the way to that side of the county for a gun shop? The restaurant at the top of 16 couldn't even stay open anymore.

There is or was some land for sale on Idelwild rd just down from the intersection with Hwy163 it will be on the right if coming from 163

Boone hasn't run out of room. The shops in Boone survive because they pull customers from at least 4 counties. People travel from Ashe to other places to work, not the other way around. You need to do some research on median incomes and population in each area before opening what is considered a high ticket item store. Ashe has a dying population. Kids are leaving instead of staying to start families and the fixed income retired demographic is growing.

Once the highway is completed, I expect we will see some change in this, with more part time residents with disposable income. But you would have to survive 4 or 5 years minimum before seeing that start happening.

Also a guns stores success has a lot to do with the owner and employees and their attitude. You have to be positive and treat customers the way you want to be treated. If you treat them right they will bring you customers. We will have a gun smith on staff because he is my grandson and will be working with me. Thanks to everyone for the encouraging comments.