Name of Business: PRK Arms

Type of Business: Gun store

Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday

Location: 2913 North Tegner Road

Contact Information: 656-1200

History of Business: PRK Arms might not be new to the Central Valley, but it is new to Turlock as a third location of the store, which stands for Pistols, Rifles, and Knifes, opened its doors just two months ago.

With a store in Fresno and another in Visalia, according to manager Shaun Leslie PRK Arms was interested in establishing a presence north of its present locations.

“We were expanding and wanted to go up north,” said Leslie, noting that the location off of Highway 99 is ideal. “This midway point between Merced and Modesto proved to be a good opportunity for us to grow.”

Since opening their doors Leslie has already noted a significant difference in the customers’ needs compared with the southern sister stores. With more customers interested in shooting materials for hunting and trapshooting, PRK Arms is presently adjusting their inventory to match their clients’ needs.

“We’re learning our crowd here in Turlock,” said Leslie.

The store also boasts a unique variety of guns that are difficult to obtain in California. With an out of state gunsmith that modifies the arms to meet California law requirements, PRK Arms is able to offer a diverse selection of firearms not often found in the state. However, ask Leslie what really sets the store apart from other selections and he will likely tell you customer service.

“In this day and age the biggest thing that makes a difference in any kind of business is customer service,” said Leslie, noting that the staff at PRK Arms is educated and ready to attend to each client’s unique needs. “We are very customer driven here.”

Business Specialty: Black rifles, those difficult to attain in California.