Lehigh Valley Guns and Ammo

Lehigh Valley Guns and Ammo set up shop at 629 N. 13th St. in center city Allentown, opening in September 2012. Owner Adam Miller, a former Northampton County domestic relations hearing officer, recognized the firearms industry was booming and positioned his store to serve Lehigh Valley shooters looking for self-defense and home safety options.

The store operates out of 1,600 square feet of carefully designed retail space with multiple glass-top handgun display cases. They maintain approximately 350 firearms on display, representing a $300,000 inventory investment.

Firearms available: - Handguns (all major makes except Kimber and Benelli—both forthcoming) - Hunting rifles - AR and black rifles - Shotguns marketed for home protection

Ammunition brands: - American Eagle - Remington - Hornady - Blazer - Zombie - Barnes - Armscorp

Tactical and accessories: - Magpul magazines and products - Blackhawk law enforcement gear - Holsters - Shooting-related outerwear (planned)

The store takes security seriously. Security cameras monitor the interior and exterior. Entry is controlled—customers ring a doorbell to be buzzed into a vestibule, then again into the main shop area.

Miller plans to install a 25-yard automated shooting range on the south side of the building. Once operational, the store will offer:

• •Personal safety instruction
• •Home defense shooting classes
• •Certified firearms instructor-led training

The firearms industry was experiencing record growth in 2012. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported the industry was a $4 billion business nationwide. Background checks hit record highs—December 2011 saw 1.85+ million NICS checks, and Black Friday 2011 set a single-day record with 129,166 checks.

Major manufacturers like Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Sig Sauer couldn't keep up with demand. Ruger produced its one-millionth firearm in 2012 alone, running three manufacturing shifts. Gun dealers across the country reported six-figure backordered inventory.

Miller tapped into this market at the right moment, focusing on customers prioritizing home safety and self-defense—his top customer draw.