Art And Ammo Collide In Wynwood
MIAMI (CBS4) - Lock & Load is about to open in Miami's trendy Wynwood neighborhood, down the street from art galleries and restaurants.
The machine gun shooting range is a place where art meets ammo, minus the glasses of wine, well drinks, or finger food.
The managers, all former police and military, say their high-end shooting range concept will fit in just fine with the area's funky vibe.
Former Miami Beach Police Officer Mike Pryor, who is the general manager at Lock & Load says the concept is 'shoot first and visit the galleries and restaurants later.'
"We want to be part of the whole Wynwood experience," he told CBS4's Brian Andrews. "We don't want to be just a place where someone goes to put holes in a target."
The high-end range will cater to walk-ins off the street, and those who wish to pay a regular membership fee to use the range lanes.
"We're just looking to show the positive side of the sport of firearms," said Pryor.
Visitors can learn to shoot some major firepower in a controlled, safe, environment, under the watchful eye of gun specialists.
"I've got the best of the best working here," said Pryor. "All employees have extensive training in their past lives in law enforcement. We're not going to put firearms in the hands of somebody who shouldn't have one and shouldn't even be here."
Pryor said his team will do background checks on all members and also size up everyone from a psychological standpoint, based on their law enforcement experience, to make sure patrons are OK to shoot.
"We're here for the sport aspect of it," Pryor said. "It's a safe, closed, supervised environment where you can learn to fire weapons some have only seen on TV and in the movies."
The range's menu of firepower packages are named after "James Bond" and the "Israeli Special Forces."
Shooting package prices start around $100 dollars and go as high as $600 dollars.
Pryor has visions of seeing his range become a new option for an interesting "date" night.
"This will be the place for the curious to the enthusiast. We want everyone to come who is looking for an interesting, and fun night out."
Lock and Load is owned by a team of investors who spent the past three years bringing the concept to reality, renovating the warehouse, soundproofing the range, hiring an interior designer, and doing all they could to separate themselves from a typical, dingy, dank, shooting range.
"It's state of the art and climate controlled." You can shoot here rain or shine," said Pryor.
Lock & Load says it wants to be a good neighbor in Wynwood and is reaching out to nearby restaurants and galleries to see if there's a way the businesses can steer clients to each other. Pryor says safety is most important, with the facility licensed by the Federal Government, with extra security measures installed to protect its arsenal of recreational firearms.
"This is not your average target range," he added.
Especially with a retired OH-58 military helicopter fuselage suspended from the ceiling.
More information is available on rates and lane reservations at lockandloadmiami.com.
