PHOTO PROVIDED Elk County Ammo & Arms can be found at 246 Brusseles St., St. Mary’s.

Elk County Ammo & Arms, like so many businesses, had humble beginnings.

The business at 246 Brusselles St., St. Mary’s, began as Marlos Fur Post and operated out of a shed.

The small operation launched by brothers Mark and Joe Rupprecht in 1983 sold trapping supplies and bought raw furs and deer hides.

The two soon expanded the business to sell firearms and moved two years later to a new and bigger building in downtown St. Mary’s.

In those early years, business continued to grow.

By 1991, it had found yet another downtown location in a two-story building offering a wide selection of hunting and fishing supplies serving customers throughout the region.

This year officially marks the store’s 40th anniversary.

“Business is good,” said Shelly Shine, who along with her husband, Greg, now own and operate the store.

The long-time family-owned store sells firearms, ammunition, archery supplies, fishing rods and reels, and accessories as well as hunting and fishing licenses.

Its location in downtown Saint Mary’s brings its share of foot traffic.

“We do a lot of online sales as well,” Shine said.

The fall months are the busiest time for the store when hunters take to the woods for archery, small game, and deer rifle seasons.

“I think our selection and low prices set us apart,” she said.

Through the years, Elk County Arms & Ammo has established itself in the community.

“We do a lot of support with local youth and fishing organizations,” Shine said. “We do donations for fishing derbies and the youth pheasant program.”

The store employs about a dozen people, according to Shine.

The website is ammoandarms.com.