You haven't been to a French resturant lately, I take it [:P]
Sarcasm aside...Around where I am (Orange/Rockland Counties, NY), gun stores started as a guy's (or woman's) hobby shop and basically grew up around that premise. They're not advertised except by word-of-mouth. They're *expected* to be small holes in the wall, and most of the customers are *expected* to know a little more about weapons than "this is the end that goes boom". Admittidly, the selections of accessories and gear is kind of lame (tactical sling? HA!) in most places around here, but *shrug*
Of the gun stores I know in the area by where I am, one was much like you asked for. The people at the counters were for the most part knowledgable. Their gunsmith was out and about, and seemed to not be an idiot. (Finding a gunsmith who knows his stuff is hard around here ;) ) They had people there who knew about archery/bows, rifles, handguns, airguns, paintball guns, what have you. They even had an indoor 100 yard range. It was a good place, business-wise. (It was even clean!).
They went out of business.
The other hole-in-the-wall shop about 2 miles away...poor lighting, no gunsmith, no range, only a couple people there. It's run basically as a hobby to the guy who runs it; he just enjoys doing it. He has a huge selection of hunting, target, varmint rifles, shotguns, and a decent wall of "assault" rifles, pre- and post-ban.
They've been around forever and they're not going away anytime soon.
There's another sporting goods store that stocks rifles, shotguns, and handguns...they don't have much of an "assault" rifle selection, though, and to be honest, staring at racks of bolt-action rifles just dosen't do it for me, so I don't spend much time there unless I need supplies :) They DO have a much larger selection of cleaning and shooting supplies than most any other place I've ever been to around here, which is nice. They're a full-fledged sportsman's shop; bait, tackle, hunting stuff, the whole thing.
It's more than just how the place looks or if the people inside have clue or not. It's got a lot to do with how it's run, too...if it's being run like the guy who runs it has a passion about the place (or at least enjoys it), or if he's just trying to turn a buck.
I think what turned it for me was when I bought an Aug a couple months ago. I had it sent to that hole-in-the-wall place, and I signed for it there. The owner of the joint, older guy...say mid-60's, perhaps older. He saw me take the Aug out of the box and check it over, and he was in HEAVEN. He loved the thing, said he wished he never sold his. He was jealous, and the guy OWNED THE STORE! That's a place I'll gladly bring my business to.
So, IMO...a Wal-Mart like atmosphere is nice for general stores, but for a gunstore? Not sure it works real well...
I WILL agree on the knowledgable help bit, tho. It'd be nice if I could walk into a place, pick up a Colt AR15, ask the guy behind the counter if it has a sear block in it...and not get stared at like I just grew a third eye...
(If this post seems overly long, sorry. I'm diligently avoiding work as I type. The more the merrier...)