Staff Spotlight: Meet Austin, Co-Owner of the Premier Gun Store in New Prague, MN

Jun 14

4 min read

Nestled among plumbing businesses, home improvement contractors, bakeries, insurance, realtors, and all the other stores in New Prague, MN, is a new cornerstone in the Historic Mill: 2 If By Sea Tactical, gun shop and community hub.

It takes a village to build a community. Join us each month to meet all the men and women who make this community possible.

The team from the ribbon cutting, 5/17/25

There's no better place to start than where it all began: join us for a candid conversation with co-owner, Austin Reville.

Southern Boy Finds a Home in New Prague, MN

"I find myself in many things that I never in a million years would have expected to find myself." So Austin admits when asked about being the owner of 2 If By Sea.

It wasn't his lifelong plan. He enjoys guns as a hobby, especially as a collector, but he didn't expect it to be his career. He's had other work--in college football, counterterrorism, and logistics. Living in Alabama, California, New York...

But then he and his now wife made a choice: New Prague, Minnesota.

It was lucky chance that brought him here. He shares, "It's been a blessing for a guy who chose New Prague on a map randomly for two reasons, a) cost of living, when I was looking for a house, [...and b] each county and city can choose its own FFL rules."

When Austin moved to New Prague in 2019, he had a clear vision of getting his FFL (Federal Firearms License). He had already filed the business name several months before. But he didn't anticipate what it would become.

He started out in his townhome with a very simple business premise, and a dream to more easily collect his desired firearms, but it soon became clear there was an opportunity to build a larger business. With the support of his wife, he turned his sights to a brick-and-mortar location downtown.

The Start of an Unexpected Store in New Prague

"That was... either the greatest mistake I ever made or one of the best decisions I ever made," he jokes. "We threw everything into it... so I quit my job end of February of 2022, we opened that up, took that leap of faith, and it's developed into a multimillion dollar facility here. And a much bigger loan."

The location on Main Street was open.

Over the next few years, he got new employees, new connections, and a new, loyal customer base.

For Austin, it all comes down to sharing his love of firearms with the community.

"Getting to see someone shoot for the first time or see real progress when I train them or the full auto rentals, when they get to shoot them for the first time, they just get the biggest grin afterwards and just laugh. It's almost universal. That is almost life changing. That's a feeling that is just amazing. We had a father and son come in here on Saturday, I think, because the son just turned 21 and wanted to buy his first handgun. We had a nice father-son experience, and the big smiles, and the pictures they got together, all that... that's the reason why I do this."

And New Prague must agree, allowing his business to grow over the past six years.

Austin's Top Must-Visit Spots in Town

With the new range opening, Austin's been working overtime, but he enjoys spending time with friends' families or taking big trips, like all-in cruises and camping, where he can truly get away from the grind.

But he knows that New Prague is a real gem.

"This town is amazing, and it has meant a lot to me and my wife. Neither one of us is from here. She's from Owatonna, and obviously, I'm from Huntsville, Alabama. I owe this town a lot, and I hope I can continue to give back to this town. This town is worth sharing with people. And I can say that as someone again not born and raised here.... We have it really good. And sometimes we don't even know how good we have it."

He could talk for a while about the town's charm. When you come to visit the shooting range, be sure to stop by some of his favorite places and events:

Sugar Rose Bakeshop - "Minnesota's Hidden Secret"
1319 Woodfire Tavern
Poppy Seed Inn
Strike Force Bowl
Music in the Park
Dožínky Days
Lau's Czech Bakery
Ettlin's Cafe
Sue's Quilt Shop
St. Patrick's Tavern

And that was just off the top of his head... New Prague is "a hidden place, with more to do than you think it would have."

What's Next for Austin and 2 If By Sea Tactical

He may not have heritage from the Czech Republic, but he's set up shop -- literally -- in New Prague. Next year, he's serving as the President of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce, and he's also on the Economic Development Agency board for the city. With his enthusiasm and care for people, he's going to leave a mark on the town.

At 2 If By Sea Tactical, people can look forward to theme nights, movie nights, holiday tie-ins, and other fun events that bring some of Southern gun culture to the Upper Midwest. He wants to "take the sting and the stigma out of guns," and give everyone a better understanding of America's unique relationship to firearms.