Lock-N-Load Opens Store in Washington

“Business has been doing really well,” Kassebaum said. “We’ve been really busy since we opened.”

The 6,000-square-foot store carries a plethora of new and used guns, ammunition, fishing rods and tackle, hunting supplies and archery equipment. Kassebaum said the store also is the only dealer of Bowtech compound bows in Franklin County.

“We are the largest sporting goods store in Franklin County,” she said. “If we don’t have it, then we can order it. We can order anything that other (sporting goods) stores can get.”

Lock-N-Load also has a 20-yard, 3-D indoor archery range at the new location and a 40-yard 3-D range at the New Haven store. Children ages 5 to 15 can shoot free (with an adult present) on Tuesdays at the New Haven location from 6 to 8 p.m. Kassebaum said they hope to have a kids night at the Washington location as well.

Both locations have a staff of firearms and archery experts who can help customers find the equipment that best suits their needs.

Kassebaum said she and Dave opened their first store in New Haven in 2010 after he was laid off from his job of 21 years.

“I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he said he’d like to open a sporting goods store,” she said. “I said, ‘We can do that.’ ”

The Kassebaums started out with a small 800-square-foot building. As their business grew, they moved to the current New Haven location, a 9,000 square-foot building at 200 Immanuel Drive.

Hours for both locations are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the New Haven location. The stores are closed on Mondays.

For more information, people may call 636-390-4479, Washington, or in New Haven at 573-237-5623.