New shooting range open in West Chester

A new business combines a firing range, firearms training, self-defense classes and a retail space all under one roof.

Constructed at 4845 Premier Way just south of Union Center Boulevard on Ohio 747 next to Skatetown USA, Premier Shooting & Training Center opened Saturday.

The 25,000-square-foot stand-alone facility features a 20-lane shooting range with both a static range and a tactical range, as well as a 4,000-square-foot retail store for firearms and accessories and an on-site armorer for firearms

Co-owners Tommie and Myron Rowland of West Chester Twp. researched the concept for four years following a suggestion by their son and Premier’s general manager, Jim Lentz, who served in the military police with the Marines.

“We want to be the premier training center for the Tri-state,” Rowland said. “Our tactical bay is set up to accomplish that mission in that we can hold events where you can shoot in front of the firing line. We have 30 feet of combat wall in there, so we have enormous amount of training facility for the gun.”

The business also has a 2,500-square-foot martial arts dojo with adjacent workout area to provide training in various forms of armed and unarmed self-defense for anyone, but particularly for women, she said.

Premier Shooting & Training Center offers corporate team building events and will conduct regularly scheduled training for those of all levels of experience in both firearms and martial arts. A training center room seats 60 and can be split in half for simultaneous classes.

“We do everything from ‘A’ — I’ve never touched a gun before, all the way to ‘Z’ — I want to be on the SWAT team,” Rowland said.

Firing range lane rental is also available to the public and various levels of membership gain customers access to a VIP members lounge, private locker rooms and an outdoor patio with fireplace, she said.

A 4,000-square-foot retail space sells everything from handguns, knives, Taser and pepper spray to tactical training gear, clothing and accessories.

Staffers include a team of highly dedicated firearms and martial arts professionals as instructors and educators, as well as an armorer to assist with weapons cleaning and training.

The underlying theme of Premier Shooting & Training Center is education and enjoyment for members and the public, whether they be individuals, families or corporate businesses, Rowland said.

“One of the things that we made sure to do is that our restrooms have showers, so if you come and work out and take a class, you can go clean up and go back to work or continue your day,” she said.

For more information, call 513-342-5840 or visit www.premiershootingandtraining.com.

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