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\u201cHunting, guns, ammo, fishing, trapping \u2014 these have always been top activities for Chris,\u201d Lacey said. \u201cHis eyes light up when talking about any of it. So I knew when I said, \u2018Hey, let\u2019s open a gun store,\u2019 he wouldn\u2019t argue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Chris was younger, his uncle gave him a Marlin .22 rifle. \u201cI think Chris was born with a gun in his hands,\u201d Lacey said. \u201cHe even had a huge gun safe in his living room when we met. I didn\u2019t know much about guns \u2014 or had even carried one \u2014 until we met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After graduating from Shelbyville Central High School, Chris spent two years serving in the U.S. Air Force before returning home. He worked several odd jobs before becoming a firefighter for the Shelbyville City Fire Department in 2002. Over the years, he worked through the ranks and is now an engineer. Because he cares deeply for our community, Chris also volunteers with the Wheel Fire Department. His work schedule at the fire department, working 24 hours on shift, then having 48 hours off, gave him the freedom to continue pursuing odd jobs on his off days. Chris\u2019s dad, Mike, worked at a local gun shop, and when he passed away in 2019, Chris stepped into his position part time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Chris and Lacey met, she worked at Calsonic before transitioning into health care as a dialysis technician. When the opportunity arose for her to work alongside her father in the business he owned, Tim\u2019s Paint & Body Supply, Lacey took it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn January 2025, I said to Chris, \u2018Let\u2019s open our own gun store!\u2019 I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen him so excited! We wanted to do something we were passionate about on a daily basis,\u201d Lacey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eager and slightly nervous to \u2018pull the trigger\u2019 on a brand-new business, the Cartwrights filed the necessary paperwork and began searching for the ideal location. The first vacant building they called about wasn\u2019t large enough, but the owners offered a much larger building at 709 E. Lane St., and at the time, it was a perfect fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lacey said, \u201cNow the funny thing is that this building is not big enough. We are wanting to get a bigger building so we can offer much more to our amazing customers. Our biggest hurdle starting out was having to wait on our license, but we had everything lined up and ready to go when we finally got it in hand. I have learned so much since opening. I am there every day, and Chris is there on the days he isn\u2019t working at the fire hall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This summer will be one year since they first opened their doors. During this time, what has surprised them most is the people they have met along this new journey and how the community has rallied behind them. They both live \u2014 and work \u2014 with this in mind: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. \u201cYou can never go wrong by sticking to the \u2018Golden Rule,\u2019\u201d Lacey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their ultimate dream is for their son, Lucas, to take over the business one day. \u201cWe are family-oriented in everything we do,\u201d said Lacey. \u201cWe want everyone to feel like family when they come through our door. Our customers are the reason we can do what we love and enjoy. We believe everyone should be treated as a person \u2014 not just a potential sale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Thanksgiving, while you busily baste your turkey and add just the right amount of sage to your pan of cornbread dressing, Chris, Lacey, and now Lucas will have been settled into their deer stand before the first colors of dawn brightened the November sky. And when one of them squints into the scope to align their sights, the very fingers that squeeze the trigger will also be the ones who share their love of the outdoors with our entire community. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit their new location at 102 Lane Parkway<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IT\u2019S ONE of the busiest days of the year \u2014 the Saturday before Thanksgiving. In kitchens all across Shelbyville, steam will rise from the fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter. Apples will be cored and sliced, then sprinkled with cinnamon and layered into what will soon become a flaky pie crust. At the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":25097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","category-shelbyville"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-3-1024x683.jpg\")
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