Blake Cryer explained there were a range of emotions during the last three months as the vision for his axe throwing establishment began to take shape.
The 23-year-old from Fort Worth said that vision started about two years ago.
Cryer opened the doors to Axeaholics Hatchet House on Saturday afternoon in the Grandview Plaza located 2730 N. Grandview Ave.
“I was extremely excited and really couldn’t contain it at first because it’s so exciting to have people come out and do something that I love to do,” Cryer said about opening the business. “I love to throw axes and for me to pass it on to other people, it warms my heart.
“I was more nervous during the process of getting everything right. Now that we are about to open, I feel more comfortable because this is what I know how to do.”
Axeaholics Hatchet House has 14 targets and seven bays. The business is open from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Business hours extend from noon to 11:55 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Kyle Zurz, 23, and his girlfriend, Caitlin Coulter, were Axeaholics Hatchet House’s first customers. Zurz said this was a better experience than the first axe throwing business they visited in Houston.
“It had two or three bays you were with about eight people,” Zurz said about the axe throwing business in Houston. “This one has two targets per bay and we have our own bay, so we can throw as much as we want instead of two throws per 10 minutes.”
The price is $29.99 per person for an hour and a half. The price dips to 25.99 if the party includes six or more people. It also includes a brief axe throwing lesson taught by Cryer which lasts about 5 to 10 minutes.
Cryer teaches the basic fundamentals and the ability to throw with one or both hands. He also said that if patrons continue to struggle he can offer more assistance. There are also complimentary axes at each target.
Axeaholics Hatchet House is BYOB and patrons can drink up to three beers during that hour and a half if they are 21 or older.
Cryer said in the future he wants to install iPourIt stations at the business.
“It’s not really like a bar, but you can have a drink while you do it,” he said. “You can’t get wasted here, but I don’t mind if you have a couple of beers.”
Though Zurz and Coulter have a safe haven to throw axes in the Permian Basin, Zurz said he still hopes to build an axe target in their backyard. Zurz asked Cryer what the targets at Axeaholics Hatchet House were made of and Cryer said it was pine.
“I’d love to build a target in the backyard,” Zurz said with a smile. “I won’t be able to build all the safety structures they have here, but that’s why it’s in the backyard.”
