Bucks Gun Rack owner outlines retail, safety and outreach plans for Midtown storefront

The Midtown Redevelopment Board heard a business-spotlight presentation on Aug. 12 from the owner of Buck’s Gun Rack, who described the store’s operations, customer base, safety-focused product mix and plans for community outreach. The owner (identified in the meeting as Crystal, owner of Buck’s Gun Rack) said she purchased the business in 2022 and that the store sells firearms and nonlethal self-defense items as well as apparel and souvenirs popular with tourists. She said her staff includes several longtime employees and that the store works with certified instructors and partners (including a provider that helps with concealed-carry permits and US Law Shield legal resources). Crystal said she is exploring posting a free online legal-education course (through a partner) on the store’s website to help customers understand Florida firearm laws; she said the course would be offered at no cost through the partner program and would be available for customers to sign up online. Board members asked whether the store’s customers are local or tourist-based; Crystal said her busiest months are November through March and that most customers are local, with some tourist visits in summer. She described ongoing loitering and litter concerns around the storefront and asked staff about grants for paint, signage and trash cans; redevelopment staff said reimbursable grants are available and offered to follow up with application details. The board suggested outreach to nearby Bethune–Cookman University and other local partners to expand marketing and customer engagement. No formal board action or funding award was made at the meeting; staff said they would provide grant application information to the business owner.