By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
FASARMS has officially moved to a new location at 1240 Vine St., bringing all of its operations under one roof and expanding its retail presence in one of Hays' busiest commercial areas.
Richard Hodges, co-owner of FASARMS, said a desire for greater visibility, accessibility and efficiency drove the move.
“The new location is better all around for the store and the business,” Hodges said. “It gives us more exposure in a higher-traffic area of Hays and makes us more accessible for our clientele.”
The firearms and accessories retailer has been operating in Hays for three years. While the new storefront is larger, Hodges said the additional space allows the business to display more inventory while maintaining a clean and organized shopping experience.
“We’ve had to get creative with how we arrange everything,” he said. “We want customers to be able to browse freely and see the products they’re looking for without feeling like they’re being watched over.”
One of the biggest changes from the previous setup is the consolidation of operations. Before the move, the company operated out of multiple locations, including spaces on Fort Street and the Hadley commercial center.
“Having everything under one roof is worth a million bucks,” Hodges said. “We don’t have to go across town to pick something up for a customer anymore.”
The transition was not without challenges. Hodges said the owners and their families spent weeks working long hours to complete the move and remodel.
“We had about two months’ worth of work to do in two weeks,” he said. “There were a lot of late nights and early mornings to get everything ready.”
Justin Richardson, FASARMS' employee, said he easily put in more than 150 hours during two weeks to complete the move.
Although the business does not have an on-site shooting range, Hodges said the company has hopes to add one in the future, taking advantage of its new warehouse space. Meanwhile, Hodges said the expanded warehouse space supports shipping, receiving and inventory management operations.
Looking ahead, Hodges hopes the store will continue to serve local customers by offering both products and customer service.
“I see this store being an answer to a question and a need for local clientele,” Hodges said. “People want to be treated with respect. They want to be able to walk in and see the products they’re looking for. If we can give them what they’re looking for and shake their hand at the same time, I think they’ll come back.”
As its name suggests, FASARMS specializes in firearms and accessory supplies, carrying products across a wide range of the firearms industry. Hodges said some of the store’s inventory includes custom-built firearms as well as higher-end rifles, while smaller concealable pistols and Taurus Judge revolvers remain among the business’s most popular products.
A native of La Crosse, Hodges said he has lived in Hays for about 15 years and is proud to continue serving the community.
“We’re from the area, and we’re happy to be here,” he said.
The store's operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except on Saturdays, when they close at 2 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays.
