HOLDEN, Maine — Maine Military Supply owner Frank Spizuoco felt a little squished in the backside of the Wilson Square Shopping Plaza after the Brewer Medical Center moved in September 2010 and decided to start looking for a new home.
He found it a mile away on Main Road in Holden at the old Swish Maintenance location that he purchased along with 10 acres of land that he already has plans for.
“Prior to the purchase, I got site plan approval … for long-term development plans for an indoor firing range and outdoor paintball,” Spizuoco said.
The Holden building is larger and the Main Road locale has already increased his drop-in customers, he said. After being open for about a month Spizuoco said he’s happy with the decision to move.
“Sales are already way beyond” typical figures for March, the business owner said. “It’s like night and day.”
With the move also came an opportunity to increase the selection of inventory.
“We ran the inventory down and depleted it at year’s end and we’ve been able to strengthen certain departments that are doing well and expanded those,” the gun shop and military supply owner said. “We have more firearms, more brands, more types of ammunition. More camping preparedness products, and more firearm accessories.”
Opening the store is phase one. Phase two is to create the outdoor paintball range, and the final phase is to build an indoor firing range that can be used for training and customers who want to try out a weapon before purchase, Spizuoco said. He also hopes to have machine gun rentals at some point after the range is open.
Currently, there are no local indoor firing ranges or paintball facilities, he said.
“People will come from all over. I’m pretty confident of that,” Spizuoco said.
The goal is to have the paintball operation up and running within the year and to offer outdoor woods ball as well as scenario play, Spizuoco said.
“With scenario you create different scenarios based on the audience,” he said. “If it’s a birthday party and it’s 10-year-old kids you would do a different scenario compared to if it was a bachelor party.”
To prepare for building the indoor range, Spizuoco recently went to a weeklong seminar in Texas where he learned about design, materials to use, what type of products to carry, and about other features.
“We’re going to have one bay with five lanes, and the second bay will be five lanes tactical,” he said.
The tactical training bay will allow for law enforcement to bring in training equipment and will be big enough that they could drive in a vehicle if they wanted to, Spizuoco said.
Spizuoco got into the surplus business in Newport and moved his business to Brewer a decade ago. He also started selling items on the Internet over the years and online sales, especially for survival gear, now make up a good portion of his business.
With more customers at the Holden store, Spizuoco also had to hire two additional people. He now has 14 employees and attributes his business prosperity to their work ethic.
“A lot of the growth and success has been because of the people I surround myself with,” he said.
Now that he’s settled into his new location and has future plans for the land around it, Spizuoco said he’s home.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
“Currently, there are no local indoor firing ranges or paintball facilities, he said.”
I don’t know about paintball, but there is an indoor firing range in Hampden, at the Hampden Rifle & Pistol Club.
On a technical note, well-placed commas would make this story flow much better, as there are several missing.
And one must do all this just to enjoy some indoor range time and there are still restrictions if you get into the club.
There is only one way to become a member of HRPC.
That is to follow the program detailed below. We realize that a Thursday night is not convenient for everyone, however, if you really want to become a member, you can make it work. If you are not flexible enough to make this meeting, you are probably not a good fit for our organization. We realize that you are busy, so are we. This membership program allows existing members to meet new perspective members and deliver our safety and rules meeting to everyone at once.
New member orientation is held on the SECOND Thursday of each and every month at 6PM. Please be prompt.This orientation takes about an hour to complete. At this meeting you will be provided an application to fill out and start the membership process. You will be given a safety briefing, and all club rules and procedures will be explained to you. NRA membership is a required of all HRPC members. If you are not currently an NRA member you have a grace period to join the NRA during your HRPC application process.Interested parties should expect that it will take at least 1 month before new memberships will be reviewed and voted on. We require that all applicants shoot with us at the club, demonstrating adherence to all safety rules and procedures and overall competence, on three separate visits during the application process. This is explained in detail at the monthly new member orientation meeting.
There is a $20.00 application fee due at the end of the meeting if you wish to complete the application process. Annual dues are $100.00.
New members will pay this at the completion of the application process.
your right, it does sound exhausting!
also, takes a year of being a member before you are allowed to use the indoor range.
I understand it’s their club.. I was just turned off so much that I felt my money is better spent on ammo and gas in gravel pits.
From my understanding you can use the indoor range if another member is present to let you in but you don’t get your own key until a year. That is what I was told by a new member who pretty much told me they are a bunch of gun snobs but being the only indoor range he just but his pride aside.
Google Scarborough Fish and Game and find out what it takes to join that club. Many clubs are being forced to stiffen up admission policies these days. You can thank lawyers and insurance companies for that. If you find a club that lets anybody in and it’s cheap that’s great. Just hope all the members know which way to keep the muzzle pointed and their fingers off the triggers when you are there too. Back on topic, best of luck to Maine Mil in the new location.
Correct,
I looked into joining, but was very put off by their opening statement. Guess we’ll just keep shooting at the gravel pit!
The Hampden club is a nice club as far as facilities but they are far too aggressive in their application process. Why should someone be a member of the NRA to join? What if you don’t have the money to join or just don’t like to support large political action entities such as this. I am a member of the NRA but know others who simply don’t want to be. Also, the whole voting thing is a bit absurd. You watch me shoot a few times and make a decision based on that and that alone? What’s next, a background check and drug test? I’ve heard from credible sources that many people get rejected simply because they aren’t the ‘type’ of people that the club likes. And the fee is a bit hefty too, $100 dollars? I think if you can deal with being outside and having some of the most solid benches in the area than Orrington Rod and Gun Club is a much better choice. Their dues are less than half the cost of Hampden and their is no application fee, nor ‘interview.’ All you have to do is buy a membership at Crosby’s Gun Shop in Eddington. $120, or $40, which one would you choose in this economy? I can’t wait to see what MM will charge for his indoor range but I’m sure it won’t be as clubby as Hampden.
These conditions are nothing compared to an out of state country club I joined. The CC I joined required 3 sponsors, it was 10k per year for the annual membership which is fairly cheap considering many of the elite clubs are 10x that but the 100k initiation fee was a little high. But then again, that fee has already been made on the course and that isn’t because of my 12 handicap. BTW, the CC has about a 10 year waiting list willing to pony up that cash as soon as someone dies.
My shooting range is right outside my door. I pay no fees and all my friends shoot here for free. Plus no harassment form the rage as to the targets we can use and such.
I think the indoor firing range is more of a way for them to offer customers “test drives” of new firearms. I’d pay a little bit more for a full firing demonstration of something before i was about to buy it.
A paintball course in that area would do well, as long as the course is good, they have decent refs, and the price is right. All to often it can be an expensive day when you’ve got to get a rental, and buy field paint. Be nice if more fields allowed a group to buy a case rather than buy them by the hopper.
Congratulations on your move , am so glad for you. The previous store was great but I found it a little cramped. Can’t wait to come in for a visit !
Glad to hear it, now maybe they can lower their freaking prices so they are in range of everyone else in the state. Sheesh.
And Van Ripoffs is any better? I dont think so. Franky is doin pretty good for a Dextah boy.
First rule about shopping for products that have a wide variability in prices, shop around. IF you are going to buy a gun either used or second hand look at some prices. Other stuff that you can’t get anywhere else without driving several hours to get it, well that’s supply and demand right?
If the free market allows the prices to be that high, then that’s what they will be. If you don’t like their prices, just don’t buy their stuff.
New Hampshire has a couple indoor firing ranges with machine gun rentals. This is a huge moneymaker for them and is convenient for people who want to try before they buy and don’t want to commit to a year long membership at a gun club.
What in heavens name does anyone [ordinary citizens], do with owning a machine gun? Play soldier?
Has the Solider at the front entrance gotten anyone else to flinch? LOL
I almost punched it
And it would have done the same thing a human would have if you punched one…stood in place and stared unflinching at you.
lol
Which = the strength of 10 men. I would have ripped that dummy apart in 2 smooth abrupt motions.
Aww dude really…you edited it? Now my horrible reply looks completely out of context.
The place is nice but here prices are outrages. Also they do NFA items but charge 200 bucks for doing the transfer alone ( no not the tax stamp ) I bought a collection from a guy in NV and called them up and they lost me business. Also the Staff I have dealt with was not up on the stuff they sell. They sell NFA stuff ( class three sot ) and I wanted to buy a m16 hammer. They tell me it is ILLEGAL to sell m16 parts. On the back wall they sell m16 kits with all the parts in it ( except the receiver ) for 599.00 but that is legal? There where two guys ion the store both told me it was illegal and they called another guy who said the same thing. Needless to say there are far more knowledgeable places to go and spend money cheaper to…
You should be happy that you can still buy the M16 kit at all. Sooner or later we’ll be outlawing that trash.
Conservative internet troll trying to stir up anti-liberal sentiment. Let him starve.
Why is it trash? NFA items are not likely to be regulated any more then they are as they have been the same from the time they where written in the early 30’s. You wanna know why? Because for every NFA item sold there is a TAX. The government is not going to give up that revenue stream. Regan ( that’s right the one the liberals hate ) signed the 86 ban that attempted to outlaw private citizens form owning machine guns mad it illegal to buy a new one but all that pre 86 is legal.
Lets look at crimes commited with LEGAL Machine guns. ONE that haw many there have been. That was a pollice officer who shot his wife with his depts mp5. So legal machine gun owners in the United states are in fact the most law abiding buch out there.
Quote from Nancy Pelosi after the 2008 elections, ” we aren’t pursuing any new gun control laws at this time. We know we are 64 votes short in the house.” Can’t imagine how many votes shy they are now with a Republican majority. I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. But then again, maybe you should.
Another small business owner doing well in the down economy, theres a great market for paintball in the bangor area, I’m sure theres is a lot of former players who would love to pick up the sport if there is another course nearby to play at.
They tell me they love President Obama. He is their biggest salesman.
too bad it’s not legal! LOL
It must get lonely in the Rainbow Trailer Park :)
LOL! You know I was joking right! You had such a long and elaborate comment, that I couldn’t help myself to be a smarta** LOL
Two thumbs up then haha
“Maine Military Supply”. Frankie-Boy, can you order me an old model M-60-A1 tank, fully armed and two F-18 fighter jets? Reply and I will give you my address.
What you got in mind for the goods?
Varmint control?
Ha ha! How did you guess?
Zombie Loads.
Double tap , Chipi !!
“Off and on the way”!
That will be your little secret.
Versus the secret you and your Uncle share I’ll gladly stick w/ my ‘retard’ angle. Thanks!
Well, at least your admitting it. First step to recovery
Why would I want to recover from it? Handicapped people get all the good parking spaces. When was the last time you saw prime parking spots for victims of pedophiles? Thats what I thought!
Wait a minute. You are blaming the store for what a customer did? I can understand why you feel the way you do about what was said but they were not employees and you can find those people in just about any store in the nation.
Why are you blaming the store for the actions of a customer?
I’m not blaming them, as much as I’m saying I don’t need to subject myself to that kind of atmosphere to get the goods and services I seek. I ignored the tea-party “obama is a muslim/antichrist/whatever” crap everywhere because I’m an adult and knew that the store was just selling what certain people want to buy.
An in-the-open ‘threat’ to my wife from someone running away as he said it…thats pretty much where I decided its not worth the hassle or the price (the cord I buy is 25% cheaper WITH shipping).
Dont listen to that nonsense. By chasing them and showing them for the cowards they are, you and the wife came out ahead. Dont let idiots ruin what would otherwise be a fun time.
Racists are idiots, shrug them off and find humor in them realizing they are cowards.
I agree with you almost completely. There is still 1% of me that thinks the more they are ignored, the worse they’ll get in order to garner attention.
But you are right. I don’t know. I just don’t feel I should bother w/ a place where I have to worry about whos with me when I go there. Know what I mean?
Yeah, I hear you, but you shouldnt have to avoid things. I dunno, why give them the satisfaction? Dont worry about who your with, be proud of it.
Edit: Not to say you arent proud of it, but hopefully you get my meaning. Its better to make them not want to go there, than the other way around
So if I did not Like or agree vegetarians would I have to avoid the produce section at shop-n-save?
I don’t know. Did a vegetarian threaten your family in the produce section? If so, wouldn’t your initial reaction (after getting over your anger at the vegan) be to not go to that store anymore?
EDIT and you’re late to the party. dsnoww already beat you to the “making him rethink his strategy” thing ;)
You missed the point that the comment made to your family could have happened any time any were. To sterotype a redneck gun store is like saying everyone that shops wal-mart is on welfare
Well, here’s a guy who didn’t ignore those stinking, rotten, tea party anti-Obama racist bumper stickers.
So let me get this straight…you were “offended” when someone said “It should be legal to shoot them” but it’s OK for you to call someone “retarded”.
Do you come by the hipocrisy naturally or did you have to learn it?
Calling someone a retard is not the same as wanting to kill someone. Are you saying that being a murder victim is tantamount to being called names?
You found the comment offensive. I know people that find the word “retarded” equally offensive.
Name calling is name calling. Now reading the rest of your comments, I see you are no better then the other customer in the store who made a not so nice comment about your wife, and you back it all up and show us that you are a better man by calling people retarded, who fast are you going to run away when you are being chased by someone with a rock?
Because unlike you, I know that military supply stores have a LOT of good useful stuff that is usually built better than its Walmart counterpart.
Stop playing the “let me pretend I’m ultra-liberal so I can say stupid things” part. Its old and tired.
I don’t shop in Wal-mart either, for the same reason.
You are never happy are you.
You sure, i swear i saw you yesterday in there
Thank you, Bangorian’s stupid comments are getting old!
Lol well played sir
Thank you. I’ve enjoyed this exchange.
There is So much more in there than guns. Just the back wall. You are missing out, and seem closed minded.
Your screen name denigrates my people. Five points from Gryffindor.
Your just as much of a bigot as the person(s) you are calling out. You take offense because of your race but you have no issue with your own brand of bigotry.
Ummm…I didn’t take offense because of my race. I took offense because he verbalized the wish to kill my wife and child. Did you read anything I wrote, or did you see the word “retard” and flip out?
Just as I gave too much power to the redneck, you are giving too much power to a word.
And it wasnt the racist part that got me. People can believe whatever they want. When you make passive aggressive threats like that..thats where the line is crossed.
Words do not harm….they incite.
Then why are you acting all butt-hurt instead of butt-incited?
I am not the least bit “butt-hurt” or “butt-incited”.
I am however, dumbfounded that someone who finds words offensive cannot see that the words he uses are offensive to other too.
Why waste your time with that…(insert derogatory name here)
Have you ever met any developmentally disabled people? If you had, you would not ever use that “word” even in jest.
Everybody love Everybody…
All the comments are about the guns. I don’t know squat about guns, but i love going into that store. Tons of items for anything done outdoors. There is a surplus bag/case there for nearly anything you might want to put in one. After my teenager wrecked three backpacks in the first half of this school year (one was an LL BEAN), I got a british surplus backpack for him. I think it still had some sand in it from Iraq. My kid can’t kill it.
If you hate guns you will still find many cool items in there. Skip the cheap crap online, buy local!
Actually, I think you are retarded! You blame the business for another customer saying something ignorant! Hello, that is everywhere! So, with your thought process, if you go out to eat and another patron calls your wife fat, are you not going to eat there again? LOL. Give me a break!
I covered this point in my reply above an hour ago (at the time of this writing).
Calling someone names and wanting to kill them are a bit different, but I covered that point already too.
I’ve also had the error of my logic pointed out to me, again much earlier and in a far more intelligent fashion.
So far the only part of your comment that I haven’t already touched upon 30 minutes prior to this message is the “Give me a break!” part…to which I really have no reply. Sorry!
If, you really felt threatened, you should have called the police. Threatening people is illegal and is punishable by law. While I do not condone what the “redneck” did, I think you were a little foolish to chase the guy. What if he had run you down instead of running. This could have been an ugly mess. Words won’t hurt you, actions do. Either way, it was not the store owner’s fault. I do hope you do give the store one more try. If that same senario happens again, remember 911.
Must be Bush’s fault.
you can hang w/the occupiers, I will take Maine Mil Supply’s clientele(my wife and I are anything but rednecks, very well-educated, non-hunters, etc.)
That’s pretty ridiculous, it’s too bad that people will be ignorant like that. You shouldn’t let one experience ruin your experience at the store though, something like that could happen anywhere.
The store had nothing to do with one customer. I wouldn’t punish an upstanding local business for one bad egg that happened to shop there.
Glad to see this local business expanding. I have purchased a few firearms at the Brewer location and I found the staff to be knowledgeable and friendly and the prices were reasonable.
So I’m just checkin, it was not the owner or a employee of the store, it was another customer who made this very stupid remark (s). Why then would you not return to a store you liked to shop in because of the comments from another customer, it was not the owners fault. Hay you have the fit to shop where you like, you just got me thinking as to why the store owner is being punished for the comments of a customer.
They used to have decent deals, but then they started asking huge money for transfers and huge money for staples like ammo cans. I have found another local gun shop which has transfer fees at half the price of M.M.S.
and your last 2 words just proved that you are as ignorant as the man you chased!!
Why don’t people use the telephone to argue or meet someplace. These comments should be about how great the store is or what a great place it will be. Prices are supply and demand generated and all types of customers visit all types of stores. If I don’t go back to a store it is because of the store or the service only. Two chances and that is it.
Well if that was the case then other stores in the area would be just as high? Within 20 miles of MMS there are over a dozen shops the EXACT same items can be had for less. And there service based on my personal experience sucks. I spend allot of money in the firearms arena. I like to buy local. I know almost every dealer within a few hundred miles. I know my stuff.
Just for the Story a couple years ago I went into there shop and they had a used good name brand pump shotgun. I asked how much. There price was for it used was higher then another local store had the same model NEW. I asked the guy he said that what the boss priced it at. I told him it was higher then new retail. The boss ( owner ) came down and told me to my face he had paid to much for it and that is what he had to get out of it. This tells me that it is going to stay high until someone who does not know better comes in and buys it.
I love this place. Wish they had a couch, flat screen and a frig of beer. I would hang there all day and watch America arm themselves. What a beautiful thing!
yada yada yada
Aka, The Maine Center For The Advancement Of Arrested Development?
” I ran after his truck for a little bit, after chucking a rock at it.” and ” I wish I could see him again, if only for a minute.”
Nothing like escalating a bad situation to start with into a violent physical confrontation. What you did do was reinforce this individuals opinion of you and your wife. I would say you are no better than he is.
Wow nice pictures. I’ll bet when all the kids grow up they’ll want to be gun bunnies just like the lop- eared losers who need guns to feelgood about themselves.
Geez dude, the guy is bringing a successful business to Holden. Why the irrational hate?
I had to give you a like for cluelessness. If these nitwits want to play with guns let them take a burst of six right in the belly, like we used to say in the day. Uncle Sam can send them to the fantasy land of their choice. A business model based on the Republic of Yemen sure says a lot about the neighborhood, doncha tink??
The “cluelessness” champ of the day may be you squirrel. He runs a
successful business. His future plans call for a “paint ball range” and
an “indoor shooting range”. No where in the article does it mention
anything about full auto on the range. That has been coming from posters
making assumptions…sort of like your post.
Well just get yourself airbrushed into the picture with this Chamber of Commerce’s golden child and you can spearhead an awareness drive for “Who’s Who in Mental Health,” in Holden.
LOL squirrel…what do you have against someone that operates a successful business?
Good luck to them!
Keep up the good work, love the store!
I for one love shopping there, I don’t do guns but I buy my new Bates boots there and love them. I also buy my used outdoor gear there..
Congrats MMS
machine gun rentals oh boy