As you walk up to Bullet & Barrel, there’s a feeling of “Is this really a gun shop?”
Located near downtown in the recreation district, the building’s front porch is accented with stone and wood columns, and a deer figure welcomes visitors. It gives off a great outdoorsy look. But at first glance, you might still find yourself wondering: Is this really a gun shop?
Then, to throw you completely off, there is a courtyard with tables, chairs, and umbrellas on the side of the building. As you walk through the double doors, you are greeted by a spacious room, anchored by a glass-top counter and merch including tuxedos. A couple walks out. She’s in tights and a hoodie; he’s wearing jeans and a hoodie. If not for the gun bags they carried, they could be any couple you’d run into at a store or on the street. Welcome to the “Guntry Club.” That’s the nickname owner Melanie Murray gives to her business. She is one of a handful of women who own shooting ranges or gun shops. In fact, she touts Bullet & Barrel as a “shooting range that also happens to sell guns.”
Meanwhile, back to the tuxedos…