Chad Shimunek's latest dream is finally in the process of coming true. Shimunek is the owner and operator of Black Arsenal in downtown Stevensville, and his gun store has been bursting at the seams virtually ever since he first leased his space there several years ago. Thanks to his meteoric rise in sales and service he has searched extensively even into Bridgman and St. Joseph before finding the ideal solution literally a stone's throw away.
Shimunek closed the deal late last week to buy the former Accomplish Quilting Company building at 2797 Kimmel Street, barely a block and a half from his current location at 5711 St. Joseph Avenue, both in the village of Stevensville. Accomplish Quilting, as was first reported here on Moody on the Market in mid-January, is moving to the former Dollar General Store on Napier in St. Joseph.
Shimunek has construction crews already working on the makeover at what was once the long time home to the Stevensville Post Office. He's working to utilize as many local contractors and vendors as possible to keep the project highly localized, and expressed huge satisfaction in finding the new home for his shop, saying he wanted to move as short a distance as possible due to the huge and loyal clientele he has amassed since opening the business. His new sign is currently under construction by Art F/x of Bridgman.
The new space will allow Shimunek to more than triple the size of his business, and he expressed deep gratitude to the massive support he has garnered from local law enforcement, the Village of Stevensville and Lincoln Charter Township who have all worked to help keep his shop local.
The new shop is a work in progress, and the move likely will not be made until the end of the month, so Chad is strongly encouraging folks to avoid going to the new place as there is nothing to see and nothing to buy there yet. In the meantime, however, he is conducting a major league inventory clearance and moving sale, saying "I'd rather sell it here than have to move it across town."
The store is a premium gun dealer marketing handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammo, magazines, optics, knives, parts, gear and accessories for law enforcement, sports enthusiasts, hunters, and home and self defense customers. You can learn more online at this link: http://www.blackarsenal.com
Shimunek had been leasing his space on St. Joseph Avenue, but he has invested in his business by buying the new building which is some 3,000 square feet compared to the roughly 1,000 square foot shop he has now. He is currently planning on a Grand Opening event at the new space in mid-July, and promises to keep you up to date on those plans.
With the new, larger shop coming soon, Chad is also increasing his workforce bringing to nearly 7 his full and part-time staff at the Black Arsenal. While his address will soon change, the phone number will remain the same at 269-235-9305.
Business hours now and at the new building will remain Tuesday through Saturday from 10am until 5pm and Saturday's from 9am to 3pm and closed Sunday and Monday.
Stay tuned for more on opening day when the move is complete later this month.
