Life imitates art at Wellington's 'Marksman'-inspired gun shop

WELLINGTON — Set dressers painted a simple "Gun Shop" sign outside Steve Neff's music store in downtown Wellington in late 2019. It's still there, long after filming wrapped on the Liam Neeson action-thriller "The Marksman," which was released in theaters this January. Now Neff is making the most of the village's touched-by-Hollywood fame, as well as the "Gun Shop" sign. He and manager Jaqlyn Wallace now run Tactical Equipment & Services from the space on West Herrick Avenue, selling an assortment of pistols, rifles and ammunition — just like Neeson's character used to fend off deadly cartel assassins. "Every single day I have someone come in asking, 'Is this where the movie was made?' So it only made sense to go ahead and do it," Neff said. Standing near photos of Neeson in action and a signed guitar, Wallace said she's talked to plenty of star-struck visitors who love the idea the town has appeared on the silver screen. "They're happy just to see that the little, small town you grew up in is involved with something from a big name actor," she said. Signs inside were also used in "The Marksman," and Neff said he has no plans to change the facade producers painted. "It's another way to publicize the village," he said. "It's a good thing for Wellington." Tactical Equipment & Services' biggest customers are local police departments and sheriff's offices. Neff said he also supplies officers with everything from body armor to traffic radar. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Saturday by Main Street Wellington. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.