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A new business in Mount Ayr now offers Iowa hunters another option for purchasing a hunting or fishing license, in addition to arming them with equipment for the pursuit.
Chase French and Colton Weehler stand in front of their new business in Mount Ayr.
Colton Weehler and Chase French combined forces as partners in a new business that re-branded Weehler’s Gun Shop to Alpha Arsenal and moved it from Benton to Mount Ayr.
The two of them grew up as neighbors, and long joked about going into business together. One day the conversation became more serious when they went to look at a building owned by French’s grandfather. They kept their options open for a couple months, lightly talking about loose plans until June, when they signed a contract with William French.
The move was meant to be. After they finished getting the building ready in Mount Ayr, Weehler received a notification from his insurance company that he would need to move the original gun shop off of his personal property to keep his farm insured.
Weehler and French did all the work on the old building themselves, including re-roofing the leaky structure and installing new flooring and walls. They turned the whole building in 75 days.
After a long wait, Alpha Arsenal, a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer and retailer, officially opened on November 22. They opened their doors just in time for Black Friday sales and have had a steady stream of customers since opening day, with sales looking promising.
“We’ve done probably a little over $50,000 in one month so far,” Weehler stated.
Alpha Arsenal is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 205 N. Taylor Street in Mount Ayr and is modeled after the original concept in Weehler’s old shop. Additional space has allowed them to expand and incorporate more hunting equipment and showcase new and different items.
In addition to firearms, Alpha Arsena stocks vortex optics, a full line of archery equipment, ammunition, and hunting accessories.
“There really is something for everyone, from collectors to hunters, to women coming in buying their first hand gun,” said Wheeler. “I mean, it’s literally everything.”
French is adding his expertise as a bow hunter, offering general maintenance and repairs of archery equipment. They just got a new bow press which allows them to put a new string on a bow.
Weehler started the original business as a hobby during the pandemic in 2020, custom building guns to suit individual users needs, and sold firearms through a small shed outfitted on his farm. He also bought and traded guns with those looking to upgrade or clear out their gun collection, and will continue to do that in the new location. He had a following of roughly 2,500 people on his facebook page prior to opening the doors of Alpha Arsenal.
Eventually, they will have a website with all of their inventory on it once they get Coreware set up and pass the 60-day waiting period.
Alpha Arsenal is generally open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 205 N. Taylor Street in Mount Ayr, or you can contact them by phone at 641-464-6500.
