Dresden Take Out owners Mason and Kathy Dubord stand in front of a rack of firearms in the store’s new gun room Tuesday, Oct. 10. (Maia Zewert photo)
When Kathy and Mason Dubord purchased the Dresden Take Out in February 2016, one of their goals was to make the business the “store of choice” for the community. As of Saturday, Oct. 7, the Dubords are selling fishing and hunting essentials, including guns and ammunition, due to the popularity of the activities among the store’s customers.
“It really was Kathy’s idea to begin with,” Mason Dubord said. “We figured this is a hunting and fishing community, so we should offer that here.”
After committing to the idea in the spring, Mason Dubord, with help from Mike Nylen and Andrew Spicer, worked nights and weekends to renovate the space formerly home to a redemption center. The unfinished space had “only one light plugged into the room’s only outlet,” Kathy Dubord said, but by the time the work was complete, new light fixtures and rough-cut pine lined the walls, giving the space a distinct “up at camp” feel.
The Dubords relied on their customers to tell them what they would like to be able to purchase. From game cameras to camping supplies, building the store’s inventory has resulted in “a lot of learning,” especially over the past few days, Kathy Dubord said.
The store carries ammunition and new firearms, ranging from handguns to rifles from a variety of manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Thompson/Center Arms. The Dubords hope to offer prices that can fit within the budget of almost any customer.
“We hope anyone who comes in looking for something can leave feeling good that they were able to purchase a high-quality gun within their budget,” Kathy Dubord said.
Some of the hunting and fishing merchandise now available at the Dresden Take Out. (Maia Zewert photo)
All customers must undergo a background check to purchase a firearm, Kathy Dubord said.
Dresen Take Out also carries hunting clothing, from vests and fleece to orange hats.
The Dubords plan to change inventory depending on the season, including adding ice fishing gear as it gets colder. They also hope to add live bait.
If there’s anything the store doesn’t carry that customers would like to see, the Dubords said they would add it to the inventory.
“We want people to be able to come in and find exactly what they need,” Kathy Dubord said. “If we don’t have it, we’ll start carrying it.”
Since opening Saturday, the new addition has received nothing but positive feedback, Kathy Dubord said.
“Everyone’s been really excited about it, and so are we,” Kathy Dubord said.
The “gun room” hours will remain similar to the business’s regular hours, but that could change depending on customer needs, the Dubords said.
The Dresden Take Out is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information, find Dresden Take Out on Facebook.
