ATLANTA (Oct. 26, 2014) - The only public gun range in the city of Atlanta, slated to open very soon, is a unique adaptive reuse of a vacant, aging industrial building in west Midtown. And don't be surprised if the project wins an award at ULI Atlanta's 21st Annual Awards for Excellence in September 2015.
Stoddard's Range and Guns second location, under construction at 485 Bishop St. in Atlanta's Home Park neighborhood. The project appears to be wrapping up, and the owners have painted "Stoddard's Range and Guns" on the street-facing exterior wall.
Stoddard's has built a reputation as a top gun-range operator with its original location on Bankhead Highway in Douglasville. In fact, Creative Loafing readers just voted it metro Atlanta's best shooting range - for the third consecutive year.
A prominent member of Atlanta’s commercial real estate industry backs owners Ken Baye and Michael Halbreich. They're a pair of resilient businessmen, having bounced back nicely after a fire destroyed their Douglasville location in 2009.
The Bishop Street location likely will be the only gun range we see in the city of Atlanta for a long time. City codes would have to be changed to open the door for additional ranges. We imagine Atlanta Police Department higher-ups will be glad to have an intown range at which their officers can take shooting practice.
The new location will stress safety and offer members the opportunity (and encourage them to) store their firearms under lock-and-key at the facility. Stoddard's also will position itself as an entertainment venue where members can come for a good, safe time.
Stoddard's west Midtown location is part of the resurrection of Bishop Street. Industrial real estate firm Rooker went back to its roots and moved it headquarters to a cool, glass-heavy building on the street, and The Worthing Cos. has started work on the 244- unit community Heights at West Midtown at 507 Bishop.
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