- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of New Times free.
Ten years ago, Mandall's Shooting Supplies was an unusual hub in Old Town Scottsdale. Back then, it was the place to go if you were looking to shoot some high-powered, fully automatic guns or buy an expensive, vintage rifle from Spain.
Now, all that's left of Mandall's Shooting Supplies is the most bizarre sign in Old Town Scottsdale -- a cute, cuddly teddy bear holding a machine gun.
Unfortunately, the store closed when owner Marty Mandall retired, sometime prior to 2005. The only things visible through the storefront windows are some empty shelves, tables, and chairs, so we can only imagine this place in its heyday, when it housed 25-yard indoor ranges for rifle and pistol, offered fully automatic weapons for rent, and showcased its plethora of imported firearms (like Erma E M1s from Germany, Cabanas Master Bolt Action Rifles from Mexico, and the Alpine. 243 rifle from England).
Hopefully, the most unusual sign in Old Town Scottsdale will hang out a bit longer.
(Editor's note: After this blog was published, we received information that Marty Mandall died in March, 2009. Here is a link to a blog about Mandall's passing.)
The machine gun teddy bear sign is located at the old Mandall's Shooting Supplies building, 3616 N. Scottsdale Road.
Keep Phoenix New Times Free... Since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Phoenix with no paywalls.
