Shooting Range Project Breaks Ground

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place Monday for the construction of Virlee Gunworks, a gun store and shooting range at 1019 Egg Harbor Road.

Steve Estes, one of the principals for the investment group that owns the property, secured the necessary approvals from the city in December 2020. Bayland Buildings was selected as the design-build general contractor for the 9,300-square-foot build-out and remodel.

The building – once a Save A Buck grocery store – was later developed into a woodworking and painting shop for Palmer Johnson. The investors purchased the vacant property in 2017.

The building will now be redeveloped into an interactive indoor shooting range, with space for retail sales of new and used firearms and accessories. It will also house a classroom where firearms training will be conducted. 

Sturgeon Bay will be the second location for Virlee Gunworks. Its original home in New Franken will continue to operate for the southern end of neighboring counties. 

“We are a company focused on customer service and offering a wide selection of high-quality products to our customers,” said owner Scott Virlee.

The new development has an estimated completion date of August 2021.