Instead of waiting to crash, Alpha 1 Drop Zone owner is going to use his parachute

Brad Yates is pretty matter of fact about why he’s closing his Alpha 1 Drop Zone after almost 30 years in business.

“It’s kind of like if you’re in an airplane and you have a parachute,” he says. “It’s going down. You might as well jump out while you can.”

It’s quite a different story than Yates told Have You Heard? in 2015 when the store — which sells Army and Navy supplies along with sporting goods, camping equipment, firearms and ammunition — moved from its longtime space near 21st and Tyler and tripled in size to a 6,000-square-foot space at 443 N. Maize Road.

Even though the internet was going strong back then, Yates says it didn’t seem to affect Alpha 1.

“It wasn’t really noticeable.”

That’s changed, he says.

“Brick and mortar stores (are) trying to fight the online sales,” Yates says. “Each year we just see declining sales.”

His building is now under contract to sell. If it happens to fall through, Yates says he would simply remain open.

“I’m not desperate to get out of here, but it just seems like the time is right.”

He plans his last day in business to be Feb. 29

On, Jan. 13, Yates will start marking items off by 20%. Then they’ll drop by 50% and then 75% off.

In addition to discounting merchandise, Yates will sell the store’s fixtures.

Following the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” adage, Yates also will continue to sell his merchandise online.

Over the years, Yates says, Alpha 1 has worked with more than 40 veterans organizations.

“It’s been fun watching them grow,” he says.

“We kind of feel like we’ve made a mark in the community as far as the veterans go,” Yates says. “That’s probably one of our biggest accomplishments.”

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 5:03 AM.