Owners of Whittaker Guns, the state’s largest gun store located in west Daviess County, say their business offers more than firearms. With clothing, grills, outdoor gear and the state’s largest archery selection, the store unveiled an online rebrand — Whittaker Country — on Friday.
Whittaker’s co-owner Darrik Caraway said while the storefront will still say Whittaker Guns and the business will continue as is, social media accounts have transitioned to Whittaker Country.
According to Caraway, social media content algorithms do not favor the word “guns,” which he said was negatively affecting the company’s online presence.
“Our primary reasoning is to make sure our customers can receive the message they want to receive,” he said.
This wasn’t the only message Whittaker Country announced on social media Friday. On October 25 and 26, the store will host its fifth Guntoberfest, which will feature a Night with Buck Commander, the popular show on the Outdoor Channel starring Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame.
Robertson will emcee the October event at Whittaker’s and will be joined by the show’s crew — Adam LaRoche, Tombo Martin and Ryan Langerhans.
The event will end with a concert as it has the last two years when Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw took the stage in West Louisville. Although Caraway said he is not ready to announce who will be headlining the upcoming concert, he did tell Owensboro Times that it will be a more intimate event than years past.
“There will be two performers, but there will not be full-blown bands,” he said “This will be more of an acoustic performance.”
Caraway said a more toned down show was a request of the artists.
“It’s fun for the performers, but they are still going to sing their same songs,” he said.
Caraway said Guntoberfest also offers customers a sales event on Whittaker’s merchandise, where people can actually meet the manufacturer.
Whittaker Guns, open since 1988, is located at 6976 West Louisville Lane.
