Getahn Ward

gward@tennessean.com

Regal Range to offer firearms training, sell guns

A Nashville partnership has the former Regal Bellevue Cinema under contract with plans to open a firearms training center and indoor shooting range there.

Regal Range is expected to be the largest operation of its kind in the Nashville area, offering firearm and tactical training classes, a 31-lane indoor shooting range and more than 6,000 square feet of retail space for sales of firearms and accessories, said Anthony Folk, co-owner with his business partner Ian Kelly.

"We have all the approvals, we're just waiting on the occupancy letter from Metro Codes," Folk said, adding the F&K Arms and Ammo gun shop, which he and Kelly own, also will relocate from 5912 Charlotte Pike to Regal Range.

The 40,000 square foot building Regal Range will occupy at 7741 Highway 70 S. has sat vacant since Regal Bellevue Cinema 12 closed after Nashville's May 2010 flood. The plan for Regal Range there is the latest positive development news in Bellevue, including developer Crosland Southeast planning next week to provide information on a potential rezoning and site plans as the first step toward redevelopment of the largely-dormant Bellevue Center mall property.

Bellevue's Metro councilwoman Sheri Weiner organized a community meeting for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Shoney's restaurant in that area, where residents can learn more about plans for Regal Range. "If it's done right and if it creates a positive destination, then that can only help the area businesses," Weiner said.

At Regal Range, the shooting range will be 60 yards in length with nine of the 31 lanes for shooting pistols and another 10 for shooting 50 BMG rifles and machine guns. The other 12 lanes will be part of the full tactical training room.

Regal Range will also offer a program through which its customers will be able to rent items from handguns to full automatic assault rifles under supervision from a trainer. "You've got people that don't know about firearms, so we want to be able to train them and teach them," Folk said, adding the gun-rental program will allow patrons to test and evaluate guns before purchasing them.

A soon-to-retire, 30-year Metro Police veteran will be the primary instructor on staff at Regal Range, which will employ up to 25 full-time and part-time.

Previous attempts to reuse the former Regal Bellevue Cinema space included plans for an antique mall and flea market that didn't materialize, Weiner said.

Reach Getahn Ward at 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @Getahn.

Other happenings in Bellevue:

Community meeting developer Crosland Southeast plans on Bellevue Center mall

When: 6:30 p.m., Nov. 13

Where: Cross Point Church, 7675 Highway 70 S., Nashville, TN 37221 (Old Circuit City building next to Home Depot)