MORGANTOWN — Big Daddy Enterprises Public Relations Coordinator Nick Lahera said the Florida-based firearms retailer is “full-steam ahead” on plans to open a Big Daddy Guns store in The Deck, at 1050 University Ave.
Even so, the company continues to scout locations.
“What we were saying when we were in Morgantown, and this is still our stance, is that we have been looking at potential secondary locations, but at the current moment we still have full plans on operating in that [University Avenue] location,” Lahera said.
When asked to clarify, Lahera said the company is looking for a location to potentially open a second store, not a location to replace the approximately 1,500 square feet under lease in The Deck.
The Dominion Post reached out to Lahera for comment after Friday’s announcement that Starbucks — the anchor tenant and only other business known to be under lease in the recently constructed development known as The Deck — announced its intent to pull out, citing “safety concerns” tied to “this location’s proximity to another business …”
That announcement followed news that representatives of Protect Morgantown, a local community group opposing the Big Daddy Guns location, had met virtually with members of the Starbucks corporate team.
Lahera said that as far as his company is aware, the only step Starbucks has officially taken is to provide a letter to the media.
“So I can’t speak on behalf of Hardy World, but it’s my understanding the formal process has not started because I would figure Hardy World would have informed us of that,” he said.
Asked if he believed Starbucks is using the press to force Hardy World to choose between the coffee shop and the gun store, Lahera said, “Potentially. I’m not going to put myself in that corner, but I think there’s a potential for that, yeah.”
The Dominion Post reached out to both Starbucks and Bentlyville, Pa.-based Hardy World to ask if the coffee company remained under lease for the location.
Neither company responded in time for this report.
Hardy World is the developer of The Deck. Hardy World founder, Joe Hardy, is known for founding 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
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