Dueling Axes, Central Ohio’s premier axe-throwing venue, with comfortable, safe, upscale lounges, is preparing to open a new location in Downtown Grove City at 3940 Broadway.
The company’s fifth brick-and-mortar is set to move into the former home of Grove City Bowling, which most recently served as Zassy’s Tap Room, according to a press release. The Grove City Dueling Axes will feature 6,000 square feet dedicated to eight ax throwing lanes and an additional 4,500 square feet for food and beverage options, including a full-service bar. This location is expected to open in the second quarter of 2025.
“Grove City is a vibrant city with amazing history and culture. It is growing, attracting all sorts of new residents, and was instantly intriguing to us when the opportunity was presented,” Jess Hellmich, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder at Dueling Axes said in a press release. “The natural charm of the building, the location in Grove City’s downtown area (Town Center), and the prospect of being neighbors with other complimentary businesses aligned perfectly with our growth strategy. It also fits our original vision of being a contributing member of the communities in which we operate.”
Dueling Axes Grove City plans to renovate the interior of the building while maintaining many of its original features and bar/kitchen layout. The axe throwing lanes will be located in the back of the building (where the bowling lanes used to be located), partially separated from the main food and beverage space, allowing for a sports bar and lounge-type atmosphere around the bar seating and main dining area. Décor and overall atmosphere will match the design aesthetic of the Dueling Axes brand, which includes raw, dark, chunky wood features and metal accents – industrial chic.
Planned operating hours include Wednesday – Sunday while being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. As with all Dueling Axes locations, patrons are welcome to walk in during normal business hours without reservation. Open seating at the bar and dining area will be first come, first serve. Walk-in axe and knife throwing will be accommodated pending availability, and online throwing reservations will be available through our online booking software or by calling/emailing in advance. Visitors wishing to just sit at the bar or order food and drinks may do so even if they do not plan to participate in the axe-throwing activity. This facility will be family-friendly, with the exception of no one under the age of 21 being allowed to sit directly at the bar per local regulations.
As is available at all Dueling Axes locations, Fridays and Saturdays will feature Cosmic Axe Throwing, where all eight lanes will be transformed with blacklight-reactive targets, axes, and knives. Guests are encouraged to wear UV-reactive clothing and accessories to add to the fun.
New service offerings being debuted at this location include an upscale small-bites menu and a sports bar vibe featuring large format TVs throughout the bar, dining, and axe throwing areas. “The axe throwing industry has evolved throughout the years, and we have modernized our overall offering with the times since we originally opened in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, in the summer of 2018,” comments Paul Sherry, Chief Operations Officer at Dueling Axes. “Our very first location exists in 2,500 square feet and was originally beer and wine only in a BYOB format. Today, all Dueling Axes locations open standard with a full-service bar, and we recently introduced a small-bites menu in our Las Vegas, Nevada location. The success of the added kitchen has solidified our decision to introduce a food component to our offerings. It also allows us to be more fully committed to the community, giving them a place to go out that offers food, drinks, and a wildly fun activity of throwing axes and knives.”
The decision to add Grove City to the Dueling Axes footprint comes only a month after starting construction on the Cincinnati location (Dueling Axes’ fourth location is anticipated to open in May of 2025). “The last time we expanded in 2020, we opened two new locations (Las Vegas, NV, and New Albany, OH),” continues Paul Sherry. “While neither expansion originally included two new locations at the same time, we are grateful to have the right team in place to pull it off well. We are fans of taking advantage of opportunity, and both the Cincinnati and Grove City markets are primed for what we offer and we are prepared to deliver an unmatched experience while staying true to our original vision and values.”
