My Story

A Word from Rob,  

Founder of Central Connecticut Arms, LLC

I grew up in North Branford, CT, where I spent a lot of time outdoors hunting, fishing, and trapping. My passion for the outdoors and interest in firearms growing up eventually led me to join the U.S. Army as an infantryman and armorer.

After I left the Army, I pivoted into retail sales. Over the past 30 years, I have served countless satisfied customers with patience and guidance. I have never been interested in just selling them something. I take pride in offering my customers options based on their wants and needs so that they can make informed decisions.

This leads me to how I became an FFL (Federal Firearms License holder). One day, I was trying to buy a gun at a well-known gun shop in Connecticut. After waiting 30 minutes or so, I was finally lucky enough to be attended to. The salesperson, “Sparky” (not his real name), was a young kid who didn’t look old enough to own a gun. I asked him some basic questions about the Kimber I was interested in, and could sense immediately that he just wanted to sell me something. His attitude was condescending, and after going back and forth with him (all the while thinking to myself, “listen kid, I was shooting and fixing guns long before you were a twinkle in your parent’s eyes) I thanked him and left. The moment I walked out that door, I said to myself “I’m gonna be a dealer and some day open a gun shop.”


 

I vowed never to be like “Sparky,” and to always treat my customers with respect. I made it my mission to really talk to people and get to know them, and to listen to their wants and needs. I try very hard to be unlike any other dealer out there, and am grateful for the opportunity to share my knowledge and love for guns with my customers.

Fast forward to 2012, I received my FFL and became a home-based dealer. I was active and working full-time in my day job while selling roughly 50 guns a month from my house. By 2016, things were really picking up and my wife had finally had enough of the home-based business. I started thinking about opening my own retail shop.


 

In 2017, the moon and stars aligned and things just fell into place. I was drawn to Portland for its welcoming business community and active Fish & Game Club that reminded me of growing up in North Branford, where hunting, fishing, and trapping were sports shared by parents to their sons and daughters.

Since its opening, I have dedicated myself solely to making Central Connecticut Arms the best and most welcoming gunshop in Connecticut.

Thanks “Sparky.

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