A SPORT YOU AX FOR
Entrepreneurs say you don’t need to be a lumberjack to enjoy flinging hatchets inside specialized urban venues
T HE first time AJ Gullo hurled a hatchet at a wooden target was during a bachelor party last year in Montreal.
The Sugar Land native was instantly hooked on what has become a cuttingedge pastime.
“It’s very unique and edgy, and there’s sort of an adrenaline rush to it,” Gullo said. “I thought to myself, this would be a big hit in Houston.”
As competitive ax throwing grows in popularity across the U.S., local entrepreneurs see a new business opportunity in the quirky sport of choice for Canadian lumberjacks.
Gullo and Stephen Jung, his business partner and a friend since middle school, are looking to convert a former nightclub on the second floor of a Montrose strip mall into a roughly 1,800-square-foot axthrowing range in February. It would be the second such place to open Houston.
Ratchet Hatchet, at the corner of Waugh and Allen Parkway, will feature eight lanes for flinging hatchets, long and doubleended axes and possibly even ninja stars at wooden bull’s-eyes.
“We think it’ll be a cool way to relieve stress and let off steam,” Gullo said. “We want to put Houston on the map and show we can be a cool ax-throwing city.”
Dozens of urban axthrowing ranges have
popped up across the U.S. and Canada in recent years.
Bad Axe Throwing, a Canadian company credited with spearheading the sport, opened its first location in Ontario in 2014. The company now boasts 16 locations across the U.S. and Canada, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
The World Axe Throwing League, founded in March to standardize the fledgling sport, has 36 members in 54 cities across six countries.
Roughly two ax-throwing venues are joining the international organization every month, according to Melanie St-Amour, the league’s development coordinator.
“It’s really a fast-growing sport,” St-Amour said.
Ax throwing is appealing because anyone can pick up the sport quickly, St-Amour said. Teenagers to octogenarians have thrown axes, she said. It’s not just for burly lumberjacks.
“There’s no skills, no age limit, no athletic ability needed,” StAmour said. “Once you throw an ax and hear the thud, there’s a sense of empowerment. It’s addictive and fun.”
Sarah Sed opened Houston’s first ax-throwing venue on June 13, coinciding with International Ax-Throwing Day. Houston Axe Throwing saw a lot of interest initially, but when Hurricane Harvey hit, business took a hit as well.
“Everything came to a standstill,” Sed said. “As a city rebuilds, things have started to pick back up.”
Companies seeking a unique venue for parties or teambuilding exercises have flocked to Sed’s Sharpstown location, which features two lanes and a large reception area. The 4,000-square-foot space has hosted singles mixers and date nights, bachelor and birthday parties, meet-ups and boardgame nights.
“Lots of young professionals like to come through,” Sed said. “They tend to be looking for something fun and different to do.”
Houston Axe Throwing charges $35 per person for 2½ hours. Ratchet Hatchet will charge $50 per hour per lane for up to three people.
Sed and Gullo said they believe Houston can support multiple ax-throwing venues. St. Louis, a smaller city, has two locations. They also believe ax-throwing has some staying power.
“Ax throwing seems like the new hot fad, but it’s been an event and activity in Canada for over 10 years,” Sed said. “You’ve got a community that is an enthusiastic group, much like archery. I think it’s going to be going on for a while.” Gullo agreed. “I don’t think it will take very long for the sport to grow in Houston,” Gullo said. “It’ll grow and do very well.”
“Once you throw an ax and hear the thud, there’s a sense of empowerment. It’s addictive and fun.” Melanie St-Amour