Local shooting range to expand

Construction for a $130,000 addition to the Vandalia Range and Armory is scheduled to begin in December, according to owner Doug Hague of Hague Corporations.

The nearly 17,000-square-foot public indoor shooting range has been located at 100 Corporate Center Drive since 2006.

“This is a fully encapsulated facility. Everything that is shot here, stays here,” Hague said. He added that the facility has five 100-yard underground rifle ranges.

The nearly 4,000 square foot addition is needed to increase his retail business and upgrade the classrooms to accommodate bigger classes, according to Hague.

“We’re adding a newer classroom and then expanding out our showroom into the old classroom,” Hague said.

The facilty also offers firearms and accessory sales, Ohio Concealed Carry training, classes for those familiar and unfamiliar with guns and retired Ohio Police Officers re-certification. The business also has hunting education courses.

“We’re very excited about the expansion plans underway at Vandalia Range and Armory,” said Rich Hopkins, city of Vandalia’s communications manager. “This is a company that’s been an excellent corporate citizen.”

Hague said he believes his business is able to expand because there appears to be a growing interest in citizens wanting to carry firearms.

On Friday, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office reported that for the first nine months of this year, there were 82,186 new concealed carry licenses issued. This is more than any single calendar year since concealed carry permits began being issued in 2004.

The family-owned business has 23 employees, with 15 being full-time, according to Hague.

construction is expected to last up to 120 days.