KELLOGG — A new business has opened inside one of uptown Kellogg’s most historic buildings. 

Brad Flinchbaugh, owner of Brad’s Guns, recently opened his second firearms store at 8 McKinley Ave., inside a building that once housed JC Penney. 

Flinchbaugh has been in the firearms industry for more than a decade, including operating his first store in Bonney Lake, Washington. In recent years, he said, expanding into Idaho had been a goal. 

“I’ve been trying to get a gun store in Idaho for a few years,” Flinchbaugh said. 

According to Flinchbaugh, the regulatory landscape in western Washington ultimately pushed him to look elsewhere. He said frequent changes to state laws and increased regulations have made it difficult for gun dealers to operate there. 

“My insurance actually dropped me,” he said. “I had to go seek out new insurance because companies were saying they weren’t insuring any Washington dealers.” 

Idaho’s comparatively straightforward approach to firearms regulation — largely following federal guidelines — made the move appealing. Familiarity with North Idaho and the Silver Valley also factored into his decision. 

That search led him to Kellogg. 

Near the corner of McKinley Avenue and Division Street stood a vacant building with a long history but no lasting purpose in recent years. After its closure as a department store, the property went through several owners and concepts and was most recently used as a private residence. 

“I’ve been looking at properties and locations for a while, and this one came up,” Flinchbaugh said. “I drove over here to take a look, and after I saw it, I thought, ‘man, I think this is it.’” 

The building, which has multiple floors, required significant work before it could reopen to the public. Flinchbaugh oversaw months of restoration and repairs, including roof repairs and substantial electrical upgrades. 

Now open, Brad’s Guns carries a wide range of new and used handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, gun parts and shooting accessories. Flinchbaugh said he plans to adjust his inventory as he learns more about the local market. 

“I’m new to the area, so I don’t know exactly what people want to see,” he said. “I know what I like to see on the wall or stock in the case, but if I hear enough people saying they have to drive over to Coeur d’Alene to get something, we’re going to put it in here.” 

The shop also accepts used firearms and trade-ins, a segment of the business Flinchbaugh says benefits both buyers and sellers. 

“You can make a higher margin on the used guns, for sure,” he said. “I would say that I’m still too nice when it comes to trade-ins. I could never be a pawn guy.” 

On the new-gun side, the store carries multiple major brands, including several models from Glock, Smith & Wesson and Sig Sauer. 

“I sell a lot of Glock,” Flinchbaugh said. “They’re all fantastic guns, but it’s like everything else, people have their personal preference, but I’ve always thought the Glocks were cooler.” 

While still settling into the challenges that come with opening a new business, Flinchbaugh is already considering future additions to the large space. 

“I thought it was cool that it already had the little coffee bar thing in the front,” he said. “I want to put a little coffee shop in there, a little hangout area, maybe some shooting-based video games. Something to make it fun for everyone who comes in.” 

Brad’s Guns is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The business can be reached at (208) 640-7484 or on Facebook at Brads Operators Kellogg, ID.