NFOA MEMBERS FORUM
General Categories => General Firearm Discussion => Topic started by: phorvick on December 19, 2009, 04:41:39 PM
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I was talking today to Don Miller (owner of Season's Choice Range in Lincoln), trying to arrange use of his facility in February for some classes. He said that his health has been poor and as a result he was closed a lot these past several months. He is closing the doors effective the end of January.
Regardless of your feelings about the range, clearly it needed some upgrades, it is (soon "was") the only option in Lincoln, and given the right owner that has the time and money, it might well be a money maker. I encourage you to stop in...greet Don....wish him well....and if you ever wanted to own a range,.... and put your business stamp on it......well....... who knows .....
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Saw just this morning, Seasons choice is for sell, (listed on craigslist) Looks like $100000 and its yours! I do wish I was in a position to do some bargining with him, but all my lotto tickets end up defective :'(
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I think I will look into the possiblity of grant money to keep it open.
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If anyone is in the position to take over the range, let me know, I work nights and could help run the place part time during the day. In trade for some range time, of course ;)
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Here is my analysis of the practicality of buying/taking over the range.
1. The range, as an operating business, has very little value, if any;
2. the value of "good will" is limited;
3. any value based upon its income history, is limited
4. value of "inventory" is nil
5. value of "fixtures" is very limited;
6. the value of the lease is unknown
7. can the business license be simply taken over
8. to clean it up, and do some very basic remodeling would be in the $10-15K range I would suspect
9. it is too small to make it as a business venture without something else (FFL, gunsmith, accessories; perhaps teaching classes)
That being said, if I could simply "take it over", I would. But, paying for it? Nope. I just do not believe it has value as a viable ongoing business. It's biggest value may be the lease, and perhaps future speculative worth.
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too bad a local gun store wouldn't mind moving in there and using it for a shooting range and gun store.
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too bad a local gun store wouldn't mind moving in there and using it for a shooting range and gun store.
Agreed, Lincoln could use another gun store. We don't have many to choose from anymore. Nebraska Gun is a good little store but pretty small.
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too bad a local gun store wouldn't mind moving in there and using it for a shooting range and gun store.
Agreed, Lincoln could use another gun store. We don't have many to choose from anymore. Nebraska Gun is a good little store but pretty small.
maybe jeff would move into that store and expand.
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If somebody pays $100,000 for that place......... WOW, that's all I can say, wow.
$100k wouldn't even be a deal if that was purchasing that property and building, let alone it is leased???????
What do you get for $100k????????
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I do hope someone takes it over and makes a go of it. Personally I never used the place much because I can shoot all I want at the Izaak Walton range, but the more places to shoot the better. I agree that $100K is pretty steep when all you're buying is just the name.
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See, there is the rub...no one wants to shoot there because the place is a dump, the ventilation and heating suck, and the last two owners were oblivious to customer service.
One( the previous owner) put down anyone that owned a firearm not made by Smith & Wesson, made up bull**** lead disposal fees, added charges for using your own ammo.
The next one was just goofy, and made some really ignorant statements to me about the CHP laws and refused to listen to the facts. On my last trip there I was charged 39 bucks for an hour and a half of range time and some targets. Mr. Don was pissed because I picked up my own brass... I gave him 2 20's and told him to keep the change, as he would be needing it. I would not be back...
Anywhere else was better, cheaper and more fun, less hassle.
As far as I am concerned it is no big loss
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All the more reason for somebody good to take it over, since apparently we arent getting any NEW range anytime soon...
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maybe jeff would move into that store and expand.
That would be awesome...a regular gunshop like he has now, plus a range where you can try before you buy. He's a good guy and has some pretty loyal customers. I bet he could make a go of it.
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Yes, but the excitement of being in Jeff's neighborhood adds so much to the firearm shopping experience.
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I have only shot there twice in the last year. That was the first time since 1991. Tough to go there when you are charged what ever #$ came to mind and the equipment never worked right.
I have said if I had the money I would love to own a business like that and incorporate reloading supplies. My problem is my lottery tickets were also printed with error's (wrong #'s).
If Jeff or someone like him were able to take over or better yet buy the building, I personally would volunteer time and what ever else I could to remodel and then use the place. Lincoln no doubt needs an indoor range and I hope something good becomes of it.
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Here is what I see a wise business person doing...
Option 1
He is leasing the range (west) side of the building and the east end of the building has a lessee. If someone wants to actually make an investment, they would look into buying the entire property. If he doesn't pay his lease, then it is your property to do with as you desire. Terminate the lease (evict "Season's Choice") and re-open it with renovations (please!) and a new name.
Option 2
Next option if you don't want to invest in real estate...wait until he defaults on his lease. No one, regardless of how much money they have, would continue to pay a lease when the business has no revenue. Talk to the property owner now so that he/she knows you are interested to fill their revenue void. Find out what, if anything, they are willing to fund in the way of renovations. Probably nothing, but it is worth asking.
Fly
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Option 3
Maybe NFOA could take ALL of its revenue and buy the place. ;D
Fly
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NFOA having control of a commercial entity like that sounds like a tax/paperwork nightmare! However would be cool for several NFOA members to buy it as a partnership and donate range time/classroom time to NFOA.. hmmm.
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I'm in for $50. ::)
Fly
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Well, a little bird told me that the city & NE Fish and Game are looking in to doing something on North 44th / Boosalis Park area. I heard it will only be small arms...meaning only .22 rim fire and some indoor archery! I guess it has something to do with the removal of the old indoor range, and the project that they are doing over in the North Bottoms. I don't know exactly where they are at with the project, but there might still be time to talk to someone about making the range ?fully functional?.
I would suggest someone that is a representative of the club, and wants to see shooting in the Lincoln area grow PM me for more info. I can see if I can get a meeting with them and the proper people that are working on the project. Don's name was on the list, but never went to a meeting, as well as someone from the Bullet hole, and a couple other shooting ?clubs? around town.
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man... if that was somewhere more central (even 33rd & A would be better), there would be some great potential. my wife's uncle runs the Harry Koch range in Omaha... maybe I'll talk with him a bit.
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Hartley Group LLC owns the property, 2734 N 48th ST.
That property is owned by R D Hinkley and Associates.
Property is valued at 200k.
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There might be a lot of volunteers if some one were to take the time to make the needed improvements. Maybe we should all pool our cash.
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Hartley Group LLC owns the property, 2734 N 48th ST.
That property is owned by R D Hinkley and Associates.
Property is valued at 200k.
that would mean an initial capital requirement of at least 80K... you'll need at least 60K to get a loan on the rest and I can't imagine it taking less than $20K to get it up and running.
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So what is the interest in committing to keep it going, not investment wise but in giving it the business if was new owners, cleaned up, etc. It does not make expenses now, and would have to quadruple income to be feasible.
What is a nice range worth to all of you?
How much per hr is fair?
Are leagues possible?
if FFL possible, reloading sales, used guns, what products would be of interest?
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To be completely honest, I still probably wouldn't use it as I have a membership at the Ike's.
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Just to let you guys know you will have a problem next door. The retired LEO wants the range next to his bee place gone! He has all the cars towed right away when parked on his side! Buy the whole place that would be the only way! I agree that Jeff at NE Gun would be a good range operator. What we really need is the range GI has! The Ike's is a good gun club but they are more of shot gun club. I am afraid that new development is closing in on them for handgun and rifle in the future.
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New development around the Ikes shouldn't be a problem with the shooting range protection act.
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Thats good to hear bkoenig! I was concerned because the last time I shot there they seemed to be getting some pressure from the residents in the development.
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As long as we keep all the bullets from leaving the range, the Ikes will be in good shape now that the range protection bill has passed.
If somebody gets stupid and shoots over the berms into a house, all bets are off
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The Ikes is a great place. I will have my first membership there this year. But an indoor range beats standing in the cold at 7:35 pm in January.
I for one would use both and shot there more if it were a decent place with working equipment and a bathroom that was cleaner than a tipped over port-a-potty.
I know my wife and a neighbor lady would go with me. I have other friends that say they would go but they hear the same stories over and over about the conditions. I personally think that business would double or triple in the first few months. When I first went there some 17yrs ago it was also a gun shop. It would have to be more than a range to survive.
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I live closer to Ikes so that's my usual haunt.
I've been to Season's Choice several times over the years and before it was owned by Don. I have to agree with Chris. It's a dump and $100k for the business? What business?
I think anyone who had that much to invest in a Indoor Shooting Range in Lincoln, which I'm all for, would be smarter to start from scratch. Maybe West O or somewhere more central at least. Leasing for a business like this can't be wise either. Facilities need to be more advanced as well. Doesn't make sense to purchase the business, lease the property and then try and improve the facilities. That's just throwing money away.
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the only good location is a cheap one near people with enough money to spend...
in Lincoln, that is a tough order
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I have never been there, but I live down the street from the current owner and if he keeps his business like he does his house I can only imagine what it is like. I heard a good idea for the place a while back. That is to have several people go in together and buy it and then lease it out for handgun training. Basically what I am saying is if an instructor wants to hold NRA/CHP classes they can get keys from the owner(s) and hold the classes. That way you wouldn't need to pay someone to be there all the time. But $100,000 is steep.
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I, like many other instuctors I suspect, would take it over (i.e., take over the lease) if the terms of the lease were workable. I do think the best use of the facility in the beginning is classes...being an NRA instructor, Training Counselor, CCW etc....I have enough ego to think I could make the basic financial nut....but don't think there is enough existing business to pay any premium for the right to take it over. I would be surprised if someone actually bought it....but, Don told me there was an offer on the table for a fairly substantial amount....and if true, and I were him, I would be cashing the check now.
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It would be nice to have something like this for instructors. I am a NRA instructor myself, I haven't done much for training because I don't have a place to hold classes.