Whittaker guns

[Tom Threetoes]

Last weekend a couple of us went to Whittaker's and were surprised that the gun racks were nearly empty. I ran into a friend of mine at the Boonville gunshow today and I mentioned that fact, he said they were going out of business. It hasn't been the same since Darrel passed but I hate to see them close.

 

[snorko]

I am not surprised. it's been a couple years since I've been there. It used to be an almost weekly trip since I started going there in the late 1990s. I first went when it was still just a converted house. Then they built the pole building, adding on a larger one later.

Like the OP said, when Darrel passed it went to crap. Prices went up, more non-gun stuff came in. When they built the current building it was clear they wanted to be like Cabelas and it lost all the feel of a local shop.

 

[bgcatty]

Typical of what happens when a successful small business does not have a comprehensive succession plan in place at all times and key man insurance.

 

[johntheplinker]

Sad to hear that but, yes it hasn't been the same since Darrel passed. Seen it happen more than once, where when the kids take over a business they run it into the ground.

 

[Ahap]

That makes me sad, if it's true. I was last there about a month ago and thought that the inventory, most notably rifles as you mentioned, was low. I'll see a guy at work on Tuesday who may have or be able to get some further insight.

 

[brdhntr37]

Hate to see that. Used to be a great gun store that didn't have to do sales because the prices were already low. Kinda hurt when they went to not primarily having guns

 

[Methane Herder]

The old store was fun to walk through. It was like a 1500 condensed to 5000ft^2 space. I remember seeing stuff there that I never recall seeing at the 1500. They also had "Ye olde wall of scopes". If they had the scope, you probably couldn't buy it cheaper anywhere else. That's where I learned about Sightron scopes. Biggest current fail, they aren't open on Sundays anymore.

MH