Business & Tech

Ellisville is Getting Guns In Place of Ginghams

Businessman James Todd LoPorto is asking the city for a special use permit to operate a hunting/sporting goods store called Top Tier Outdoors at the site of the former restaurant.

Seven months after Gingham’s closed its doors in Ellisville, a new tenant is moving in that will offer firearms and hunting gear instead of biscuits and gravy.

James Todd LoPorto explained his plans to open Top Tier Outdoors at a recent meeting of the Ellisville City Council. LoPorto said it will be an “up-scale hunting goods” store with products focusing on camping gear, clothes, coats and other equipment in addition to firearms.

His remarks came during a public hearing held because the business requires a conditional use permit. He fielded several questions from council members and the audience, but no one spoke against the request.

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LoPorto said he expects his inventory and sales to be 65 percent gear and 35 percent firearms, hence why it is a “sporting goods” store instead of a gun shop. However, the sale of assault rifles is not part of his plan.

“My focus is not going to be on tactical weapons, I feel that is a fad,” he told the council.

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LoPorto will also take a variety of safety precautions to help keep his inventory of firearms secure, such as cameras inside and outside the business and an alarm system.

In addition, the guns will be kept in a separate room that can be sealed off the rest of the building when the business is closed. He said it would be similar to the gates that are used to lock individual stores at a mall.

No further action was taken on the issue at the meeting, which was held April 17, but the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval for LoPorto’s special use permit application.

Related stories:

  • Gingham's Closes Its Doors in Ellisville


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