I thought the commercial space was an ATF requirement for new FFLs?
Nope.
After doing some research, TruthAboutGuns discovered:
"...Our research shows that over 64% of all FFL locations are from home or residential addresses. Federal laws do not have conflicts with residential addresses. Massachusetts has a state law about residential addresses, but a work-around exists for online-only FFL dealers. Home is a viable option. Nothing has changed as you may have read online from forums, etc."
When I spoke to Big Al, he said HAWAII made it so you can't have home-based FFLs back in the 80s or 90s, and that only people who were already home-based FFLs could be grandfathered in at the time the law passed. He is the last of the Mohicans, I believe.
I mean, why would anyone want to work from the comfort of their own home, doing what they enjoy, avoiding unnecessary leases/rents and maximizing their profit margin? There is a reason why Hawaii is the WORST place in the US for businesses, especially small businesses.