Winchester Closing

Sad news: Winchester is closing it’s doors:

NEW HAVEN — U.S. Repeating Arms Co., maker of “The Gun that Won the West,” said Tuesday it will shutter its plant here by March 31, ending a 140-year legacy and eliminating 186 jobs.

“The market has not been kind to us,” DeMennato said, speaking about a 50 percent decrease in production at the facility because of a lack of demand.

John Reynolds, president of Local 609, and others said they will fight to keep the brand and the jobs in New Haven, though many admitted the factory has been struggling for years.

“We did everything within our power to avoid this day, but it seems it was inevitable,” Reynolds said.