Center Target Sports changes hands
After seventeen years since founding Center Target Sports in Post Falls, Ed and Peggy Santos have sold the business. The new owners, a team of corporate investors from Spokane, have vowed to continue operations in the traditions established by the local couple.
Photo courtesy of Ed and Peggy Santos
Attendees of the 2018 Center Target Sports Customer Appreciation event donated 25,000 pounds of food to local food banks. From left: founders Peggy and Ed Santos and Deb Behary, manager.
The sales floor of recently sold Center Target Sports in Post Falls will be remodeled and upgraded. Corporate representative Scott Aitchison, a member of the Spokane, Wash., team that recently took over CTS, said they have no plans to alter operations, classes or staffing, and will instead "grow on the success that is already there."
POST FALLS – For 17 years, Center Target Sports has been a pillar of the Post Falls business community.
Despite the sale of the business Friday, Ed and Peggy Santos expect the pillar to remain.
The founders took their time in considering numerous possible buyers before closing the sale with a trio of business investors from Spokane.
“Peggy and I were cautious with who we sold it to,” Ed Santos told The Press. “We were committed to finding the right fit, and the new owners are committed to carrying on the legacy we’ve established here.”
The team of Scott Aitchison, Julie Parsons and Tim O’Neal took over operations. They have expansion of the facility in mind, though they're keeping the current classes, programs and staff functioning exactly as they do now, Aitchison said.
“We’re pretty excited. Ed and Peggy did a great job of building a very successful business,” said Aitchison, who will function as manager. “We are not looking to change anything but instead will grow on the success that’s already here,” Aitchison said.
Monday found Aitchison getting acquainted with staff members, who he said are full of good ideas.
“I am surrounded by smart, good people,” Aitchison said.
Deb Behary has been with CTS for eight years and will continue in her role managing the staff, as will Amy Beck, who manages the Holsters Plus division. Both business entities were sold simultaneously, Santos said.
Ed Santos will remain as a consultant for the next several years and will continue teaching classes for a few months, he said. His wealth of knowledge spans over 45 years of firearms instruction and consultant work for 13 ranges across the country.
Aitchison’s group also has a few cosmetic upgrades in store.
“We will give it a little refresh,” Aitchison said. “Inside we plan to remodel the showroom, bring in some new carpet and some different sales counter options.”
Besides being known for the highest quality educational courses and state-of-the-art target-shooting facilities, CTS has long been known for its ongoing contributions to the Post Falls community at large.
Recognized as Post Falls' most “Community Oriented Business of the Year” and named 2013’s Post Falls Business of the Year, CTS has been rated one of the best indoor shooting ranges in the United States and the only 5-star range in the Inland Northwest.
CTS has taught over 30,000 students, donated over 150,000 pounds of food to the Post Falls Food Bank, helped collect over 800 units of blood through drive efforts and collected more than eight pallets of new toys to distribute through Toys for Tots.
“I made a promise 18 years ago to the late Post Falls mayor, Clay Larkin,” Santos said. “I told him that if I picked Post Falls (to build the business in), that I would be a community player and be very active. I think that has held true and that we’ve done that.”
“The new owners are absolutely committed to carrying on what we’ve created,” Santos said. “Peggy and I are unbelievably grateful for the support of the shooting community for the past 17 years. It’s been nothing short of amazing.”
The Santoses have plans to enjoy their future, now that there will be a lot “fewer daily demands.”
“I will still do a lot of national teaching and consulting on a reduced basis, but we plan to travel and simply enjoy our old age,” Santos said. “We have plans for a Caribbean cruise later this year, and for an African photo safari next year.”