Outdoor enthusiasts in Poplarville can now find ammunition, targets, holsters and lots of other items for their favorite hobby without driving far from home.
Little River Outdoor has been open for about a week, and already the public response has been huge, said owner Shawn Jones.
Jones opened the business on South Main Street in Poplarville on Jan. 5, of this year. While his stock is still coming in slowly, he has already seen a number of curious customers come through his door.
What was a shelf fully stocked with ammunition has already been hit hard. He said the stock is now half gone, in just one week.
A former offshore worker, Jones decided to open the store because he was missing out on the little things in life, such as birthdays, holidays and time with his wife and three children.
The initial plan was to open the store in Oak Grove, but he chose Poplarville after a Saturday visit to the area, when he saw how friendly and helpful the people are. He commended the city’s administration, police department and the staff at City Hall for helping him get all of the necessary paperwork complete so he could open the business.
Some of his current merchandise includes stocks, barrels, holsters, ammunition, scopes, targets and turkey hunting aids. But Jones has applied for his Federal Firearms License, which will allow him to sell firearms.
Once that license is approved, Jones plans to start stocking Glocks and other pistols, rifles and shotguns.
Another interesting item his store is set to carry is the Montana West concealed carry purse. Jones said the purses are not only fashionable, but offer a special zippered pocket designed to hold a pistol for fast access.
Jones also carries American Expedition merchandise and plans to also carry a full line of AR 15 parts, which are sometimes hard to find.
Another service he has planned is the personalization of firearms using Cerakote. Once he has the details worked out, a customer can choose a coating from a price list, leave the firearm with him at the store and he will either apply the coating himself or enlist the help of one of his two friends who own firearm stores around Columbia.
Those friends are also providing Jones with a plethora of knowledge to help him get his business off the ground.
Other plans for the business include some facade upgrades. Jones said the owner of the building promises to update the facade that faces South Main Street.
Jones and his family enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle, with hunting, fishing, knee boarding and skiing on weekend agendas, so he intends to sell products for those hobbies in his store.
“Everything we do in life we’re going to try to carry in the store,” Jones said.
Little River Outdoor is located at 1214 S. Main St. Suite A in Poplarville. They can be reached by calling 601-746-5121.