Imbert & Smithers, a prominent and long-standing gun store in San Carlos, California, was shut down by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) due to technical errors on paperwork, and now, as Palo Alto Daily Post reports, the San Carlos City Council may step in and take over the store's lease. This historical location has faced significant community opposition in recent years, with residents increasingly outspoken against gun stores, and attempts by the owner, Jeana Rolsky-Feige, to find a new gun store to occupy the space proved unsuccessful due to stringent local regulations on such establishments.
In operation since the 1960s and owned by Rolsky-Feige's father since 1989, Imbert & Smithers was already hit by the ATF in December 2022, and the situation became more difficult when the retailer was barred from selling firearms on December 31st, 2022. This closure was directly linked to the store's non-compliance with a city ordinance established in 2019, which required firearms dealers to have adequate surveillance systems in place – including cameras – and took effect in early 2022, according to San Mateo Daily Journal.
In response to mounting community concern over the presence of firearms retailers, the San Carlos City Council had previously passed a moratorium on new gun stores in the area, culminating in the implementation of strict regulations in 2019 that severely limited the possible locations for such establishments. These rules were designed to prevent gun stores from opening near schools, parks, preschools, and other gathering places for the community.
The location of Imbert & Smithers was grandfathered in, meaning that, if a new gun store were to apply for the same spot, it is highly likely it would not obtain approval. This is what led to the current situation, where the city is considering acquiring the lease for the property in question. San Carlos City Council is now offering to buy Rolsky-Feige out of her lease, with a payment of $390,000, which would cover the lease for the remainder of the year, and then the council would take on the $7,300 monthly lease payments until its expiration on February 1, 2027, as reported by the Palo Alto Daily Post.
Though there is no concrete plan for the site yet, city officials have suggested that businesses displaced by housing developments on recently purchased lots could take over the space at 1144 El Camino Real. This would mark a significant shift in the property's use and the community's sentiment towards it.
Rolsky-Feige herself has expressed sadness at the closure of her store and the impact it will have on locals looking to purchase firearms, who will now have to travel to locations like Coyote Point Armory in Burlingame, or one of the few stores in Mountain View and Sunnyvale in order to do so. However, she has gone on record as being appreciative of the city's offer, despite feeling that some restrictions on gun stores imposed by the 2019 regulations seemed "a little over the top" – according to the Palo Alto Daily Post.
