Owners of The Man Cave Outfitters, a firearms retailer located in downtown Centralia, hosted a ribbon-cutting event Monday for its new six-stall, 10-yard indoor firing range.
The event was hosted alongside the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce.
Co-owner Hobe Pannkuk said the business is hoping to have the range open to customers sometime next week as they’re still awaiting final approval from the city.
The range’s hours will mirror The Man Cave’s regular business hours; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s all about safety and education. The more people we can educate on firearms, the safer it’ll be. Plus, it’s also about fun,” Pannkuk said.
While the owners — which also include Pannkuk’s wife, Shoni and business partner Michael Irby — have been dreaming up the idea of an indoor range for several years now, it didn’t fully become tangible until the business received a $250,000 loan from the Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund last year.
Work began in February 2020. Seventeen months and one pandemic later, and the business is finally opening up the space. Pannkuk said downtown Centralia now plays host to the only indoor range between Lakewood and Vancouver that will not require one to be a member to shoot and instead will also be open to the public.
The “clean air” range also features a negative pressure system that filters gunfire smoke and other debris away from the stalls and toward the targets. It’s also rated to take most non-steel core ammunition and can take shells upwards of .50 BMG, Pannkuk said. The range includes one ADA-accessible stall.
Memberships to The Man Cave Outfitters’ range are also now available, according to the business Facebook page. Memberships include discounts on certain merchandise and training classes. They start at $59 a month.
“I’m very happy with the success he’s having with this,” said Art Pannkuk, 71, Hobe’s uncle.
Following the ribbon-cutting, owners hosted a raffle during which around a dozen discounts and prizes were given away to attendees and customers in the showroom floor.
Learn more at tmcoutfitters.com.
