Striving for inclusive model to further sport of shooting

VIRGINIA BEACH — Freedom Shooting Center is focused on one thing — firearms.

“We’re open to everyone and want everyone to have the ability to participate in shooting sports and outdoor sporting,” general manager, vice president and managing partner Skyler Thomas said.

Although part of a polarizing industry in regard to policy and politics, the business is meant to be a resource. He said the business experienced a serious influx of customers outside the traditional base since the start of the pandemic.

The 52,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach opened in May 2014

as Colonial Shooting Academy. Thomas said he and five partners acquired it and rebranded the business in 2018.

In addition to a 34-lane shooting range, firearm rental and an armorer, the center offers an 8,000square-foot retail showroom and lounge, which is a busy hub of activity on most days.

Customers can rent the lanes by the hour or sign up for a membership. A variety of training courses — from introductory handgun (concealed carry) to intermediate carbine to defensive shotgun — are offered on-site for the public. The range is also leased by government, law enforcement and private security agencies for training and qualifications.

The retail side is chock-full of equipment for recreational shooting: firearms, accessories, ammunition, holsters, belts and ancillary support gear including apparel.

Plans are under way to expand product lines, launch an e-commerce site under the brand FreedomOutdoorsandprocureasecond brick-and-mortar l ocation Raleigh, North Carolina.

“What makes me most proud is being able to introduce and facilitate a safe and fun environment and introduce folks to the shooting sports the right way,” he said. “We want to be a resource; a way to look into the industry with no fear of judgement and no commitment to it.”

Thomas,whoservedfouryearsin the Navy, said he developed an interest in shooting sports and outdoor sporting growing up in Alabama.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University, Thomas earned his Master of Business Administration from George Mason University. He was employed by a defense contractor facilitating shooting and training

in courses for government agencies while he gained his education.

As the contract grew to include the commercial market in some of the other shooting facilities in the area, Thomas said he decided to combine his love of shooting sports with his love of business.

But, in doing so, Thomas said it was important to hang their hat on being ambassadors for the shooting sports, the organization and the community. The 33-year-old was named to this year’s Top 40 Under 40.

The business strives to make customers feel welcome — whether they’ve been shooting for years or never touched a firearm before, he said.