Indoor Axe Throwing Center Hopes to Make the Cut with NLR

An indoor axe throwing hall

Here’s some axe-citing news: North Little Rock resident Sharee Ellis Young plans to open a recreational axe-throwing business at 500 N. Magnolia St. in the Argenta Historic District.

Her plans hinge on the North Little Rock Zoning Commission, then the City Council, approving her special use request for the property that is zoned I-1 and owned by George Collins.

He supports Young’s request, and she plans to lease the space from him if her request is approved by the commission on May 14 and City Council members on May 28.

If all goes well, the business could open by the end of June.

Young hasn’t settled on a name yet, but it could be called Axe to the Max, Axe Marks the Spot or Axe Mania. Whatever the venture is called, it will be “a family friendly recreational axe-throwing venue where the customer throws an axe at a target.” Safety regulations and league play “will be governed according to the National Axe Throwing Federation facility specifications,” according to her written request.

Planned hours of operation are noon-8 p.m. Sunday, 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-11 p.m. Saturday. She’d eventually like to extend the weekday hours to noon-11 p.m.

Prepackaged food and nonalcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. Customers could also order from food trucks parked nearby or from local restaurants that deliver.

Young said she began researching the business after enjoying the activity in Dallas with her daughters. “What I loved about it was how it was simple and it was fun. There were a lot of different types of people there. The people you share a lane with, we were able to just connect, even though they were perfect strangers. It was just a lot of laughter and fun, a lot of people of all ages,” she said.

She also noticed that it was booked up for days in advance.

Young has a master’s degree in social work and has had a 20-year career in education and counseling services. “I’ve had businesses, part-time businesses, like website design and things of that nature, but nothing quite like this,” she said.