They're closing because the building owner died, his daughter took over, and is proving to be batshit insane. Or at least a seriously clueless business woman.
She's trying to evict them because she want to rent the place for more money, despite the fact that Bob Slate's (three doors down) which is bigger, has modern lighting, heating, AC, floors, ceiling, walls, and electricity, a warehouse in the back, better parking, etc, has been empty for... 10 months or so, at a *lower* asking price.
The "new AC" they put in was put in by the new owner. It's also a heating system. It's also wicked ugly.
Maybe her actual intent is to evict *all* the tenants and just sell the building, but that doesn't fit with "putting in a new heating/AC system"
They have no intention to move, because a lot of their business, and perhaps their identity, is tied up in firearms. They have zero confidence they'll be able to get a new FFL in Cambridge or any of the surrounding towns. Picking up and moving to a more friendly town doesn't seem to be worth it to them because they'd be building up their reputation again from scratch.
I spent entirely too much time there today looking at archery stuff (came home with a couple bows) and talking with one of the owners (Charlie, I think, I'm terrible with names) about ... well... everything, including why they're closing.
They're currently in negotiations with the landlord('s lawyer), and expect they'll be open for at least a month, probably a few, maybe six, and perhaps a year. Or something like that. Other than sticking it to the landlord, I'm not sure what's to be gained by hanging on that long with decreasing stock, but I respect their willingness to make her life difficult. I've been going in there since the early '80s, and have always loved their tin ceiling, creaky floors, double secret basement filled with camping stuff (or at least it was double secret when I was nine) and what seemed like an infinity of guns (when I was nine
Their sale doesn't include guns, ammo, reels, or (most) reloading equipment, but seems to include everything else.