At 60 years old, Shooter’s Outlet owner, Tony Vonnahme, said he had always had a desire to retire by 62. In looking back at a business that has been good to him for the past 13 years, he said the question became how does he go about selling the business to someone who cares as much as he and his family, or does he look to close it instead. A long-term friendship with owner of Wendl’s Weapons in Carroll, Mike Wendl, supplied the answer.
The history between the two goes back many years as Wendl was a very good customer at Shooter’s Outlet in Arcadia. He said even though he is fairly new to the business—he and his wife Heather opened Wendl’s Weapons on Jan. 4, 2014—he was supported by Vonnahme from the very beginning.
Both men said it was surprising to them the rumors that started circulating nearly the minute they began taking steps towards the sale. They have heard that Wendl is “muscling” Vonnahme out of business and will be shutting down Shooter’s Outlet and moving everything to Carroll; that Wendl’s Weapons is closing and moving it all to Arcadia; and even that Wendl is buying out Vonnahme so he can build a store and indoor shooting range in Carroll. Wendl says that although an indoor shooting range is a goal of his for far out into the future and a new location for Wendl’s Weapons in Carroll is in the works, none of the others have any basis in reality.
For those that have concerns they will never see Vonnahme at Shooter’s Outlet again or that major changes are on the horizon, they can rest easy as both men say he will continue to have a presence in the store and Vonnahme’s daughter, Shari Stype, will remain on as manager.
Wendl said that Vonnahme’s continued involvement was THE reason he and his wife Heather decided to move forward with buying the business. Vonnahme added that he is happy that he, his family and his staff will remain connected to Shooter’s and that Wendl’s passion for the business and his long-range goals made him the perfect person to take over. And Wendl added, the only thing he can say to Vonnahme is that he wouldn’t be at the point he is without his help and support, and thank you for the opportunity.
