European American Armory’s (EAA) recent acquisition of a large manufacturing facility in Mountain City, Tenn., is further evidence that the firearm importer plans to establish a domestic manufacturing presence. EAA, headquartered in Cocoa, Fla., and established in 1990, currently imports a popular line of Turkish-made Girsan pistols, as well as Balikli rifles, shotguns and more.
Negotiations for the 33,000-square-foot Tennessee plant—once home to the Bike Factory Outlet—were nearing completion in April, according to the Johnson City Press. The newspaper reported that on April 27 Keith Bernkrant, president of EAA told the Johnson County Economic Development Commission that, “Since President Trump came in, tariffs have gone up and we’ve had changes in the business. So we decided we wanted to start on a project to produce a handgun, and the first handgun I needed to find a facility for.”
There’s more to the project that domestic production, however. EAA is actively seeking strategic industry partners interested in leasing or establishing manufacturing operations within the facility. Available space can accommodate a wide range of manufacturing activities, including precision machining, component manufacturing, firearm assembly, product development, warehousing and related support services.
“Our vision extends beyond expanding EAA’s manufacturing capabilities. We want to create an environment where companies throughout the firearms industry can grow together, share resources and strengthen the domestic manufacturing base,” said EAA’s Chase Duffey. “This facility provides an exceptional opportunity for manufacturers looking to expand or relocate their operations.”
Extensive renovation and modernization are already underway to support advanced manufacturing, machining, assembly, logistics and other firearm industry operations. The site includes additional acreage for future expansion. Local officials have publicly identified EAA’s industrial development project in Mountain City as part of the county’s economic development initiatives.
Mountain City and Johnson County offer an attractive business climate, including access to a skilled workforce and proximity to major transportation corridors. There are also state and local economic development programs designed to support industrial investment and job creation.
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