Originally Posted by joken2
Original owner, Darrel Whittaker (deceased - 2014) son and partner will be opening a new gun shop in a different location but not far. Comments on Facebook regarding the inventory at the original Whittaker's Guns say last time they were there about all they saw was pretty much just fishing gear... frown


New gun store coming to county’s west side


Quote
[Linked Image from cdn.owensborotimes.com]
Chris Whittaker (left) and Luke Kuegel stand on the site where they will be opening a new gun store on the west side of Daviess County. | Photo by Ryan Richardson


A new gun store is coming to the west side of Daviess County, under the ownership of Luke Kuegel and Chris Whittaker. The duo promises a unique shop that will offer upwards of 2,000 guns.

The business, which they’re calling KWG, will be located on Worthington Road next to the Kuegel family’s farm shop. Worthington Road is across from Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, just west of the roundabout that connects KY 56, KY 81, and West Parrish Avenue.

The building — a 7,200-square-foot pole barn — will sit about a quarter-mile off KY 56 on Worthington Road, across from Wyndcrest Drive. It will be on a 5-acre lot, with Kuegel saying there will be plenty of parking.

The owners expect groundwork to begin in the coming weeks and hope to be open by the start of summer.

Asked why they decided to open the store, Kuegel said simply: “We felt like there was an opening in the market.”

He said the inventory will set KWG apart from other retailers within a day’s drive. Both owners said that’s about how far away their primary market will be.

“My friends and I have traveled down to Bowling Green or Greenville to shop for guns. Within an hour’s radius, you’ll pull that market easily because that’s a day trip,” Kuegel said. “… But Bowling Green’s store concentrates mostly on tactical and Greenville concentrates mostly on hunting. We’re looking to combine that into a one-stop shop.”

The owners said they plan to stock about 1,500-2,000 guns.

“From a $200 gun to a $10,000 gun, we plan on having it all,” Whittaker said. “Maybe not in the beginning, but we plan on doing the whole gambit. We want somebody to walk in here and be able to find anything they want to find. And if we don’t have it in stock, we’ll be able to order it.”

They’ll also sell ammo, holsters, reloading equipment, components, and more.

KWG won’t include a gun range at this time. They said they’re open to trying to add one in the future, but if that were to ever work out it would likely be built at another location, they said.

The owners said they’ll be creating a Facebook page closer to an opening date, and they’ll consistently post information about the business there.

For now, they are just focused on getting the store up and running.

Whittaker said, “We’re already ready for people to come down and see us.”


Latest local news update (with video):


Owensboro Duo to Open New Gun Stor... Updated: Mar 12, 2024 / 08:37 AM CDT



Quote
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — A new gun store could be on its way to Owensboro in July. Luke Kuegel and Chris Whittaker, the co-owners of KWG, say the idea is a joint effort with deep family roots.

The duo says they hope to offer an inventory of nearly 2,000 guns to the city’s gun users and have plans to break ground at the end of March. The co-owners say the 7,200 square foot building will sit on Worthington Road.

“We want to run the entire gambit of guns, some special guns that a lot of people might only see online and have never seen in person. We hope to have those in the store,” says Kuegel.

“[We’ll have] concealed carry purses, holsters, reloading supplies for the gun enthusiasts that go out and shoot competition. We hope at some point and time to run concealed carry classes. Everything from from a $100 22 rifle for your granddaughter all the way up to a $10,000 Barret rifle,” says Whittaker.

The duo say the idea was a joint effort. Kuegel says they realized there was an opening in the market.

Kuegel and his family work in the meat industry. While Whittaker’s family is known for, at one time, owning the largest gun store in the state of Kentucky.

Whittaker says its been months since he’s worked in that environment, and he hopes to bring with him his love for the business, his knowledge of guns and his dad’s legacy.

“I’ve been selling guns since I was 11. Everything that I’ve learned in the gun industry…whether it be from my parents, reps, whatever… it’s going help us build a great gun store,” says Whittaker.

One person says the new store will help keep the commute short for gun users.

“It’s really the only gun shop that’s available other than, you know, academy sports. That’s part of the problem with Owensboro…You have to travel to get things a lot of times,” says Joseph Yazvac, a local resident.

Officials say once they break ground, a Facebook page will be created to help give updates as the project moves forward.