LumberJaxe: Axe Throwing Bar opened its first Canadian location in July in Ottawa’s City Centre.
Back in 2016–Kerry Moher and Jason Bidgood–fell in love with the city of Athens, GA.
“I first came to Athens to take in a football game in 2002. The atmosphere in town just blew my mind. That positive first impression was a big reason why I chose University of Georgia for Grad School” remembers Moher.
Now, more than 15 years later, Moher and Bidgood have found a great excuse to get back to Athens; to open a massive Axe Throwing bar within walking distance of the UGA Campus aptly named “LumberJaxe.”
Since the pair of MBA grads first applied for the LumberJaxe Trademark in early 2017, the sport of Axe Throwing has absolutely exploded – with close to 300 locations across Canada and the U.S.
“We had enough foresight to build and protect our brand. But truthfully, we could never have anticipated just how quickly the sport would catch on” admits Bidgood.
Lumberjaxe’s first location opened in March of 2019 to much fanfare. Their second location – and first in Canada – opened recently at Ottawa’s City Centre just above Beyond The Pale Brewery and Art-is-In Bakery. The Ottawa venue is more than 3,500 square feet and features 5 Axe Throwing lanes with 10 individual targets.
Moher hails from Canada, where the sport originated, and currently resides in Ottawa.
“I’d like to think I’ve got a bit of LumberJack blood flowing through my veins” he jokes.
“Honestly, we didn’t originally intend to open a location in my hometown. But, I just love what’s happening at City Centre; with access to light rail and lots of unique local businesses popping up.”
Each lane has an Axe Throwing Coach to help patrons master the proper stance, grip and technique.
“We’ve found that our customers really appreciate the extra attention our Coaches provide. Everyone has a lot more fun when that axe sticks!” says Bidgood.
Axe Throwing enthusiasts can walk in, book hourly throwing sessions, or private parties and team building events – with capacity for more than 100 people. A spacious lounge offers a local selection of craft beer and wine along with small bites provided by catering partner Lunch.
“If you want to get serious, we can check that box,” says Moher. “We’ve got Leagues where the Champion qualifies for the World Axe Throwing Championships. But, a lot of our customers are looking for a unique activity that lends itself really well to special events or team building.”
The next Lumberjaxe WATL League begins September 10th. Visit www.lumberjaxe.com for more information.
LumberJaxe offers Axe Throwing Halls and Lifestyle Apparel.
