Somerville Is Getting an Ax-Throwing Bar Because of Course It Is

Soon, your next corporate outing or date could include both alcohol and axes. What could go wrong? Urban Axes — a Philadelphia-based growing chain of recreational ax-throwing facilities that also happen to serve beer and wine or allow BYOB, depending on the location — is expanding to the heart of Somerville’s Union Square (2 Union Sq.) in summer 2018, according to a BizBash preview of the “10 most anticipated Boston venues for meetings and events” in 2018. Per BizBash, this location will include a bar and will have a capacity in the range of 80 to 100 people.

A spokesperson for Urban Axes confirmed the news to Eater.

Provided

Urban Axes’s potential Massachusetts plans stretch back at least to mid-2017. The Boston Globe reported in June that owner Matt Paton was eyeing the city for a new location, although he had concerns about liquor licensing hurdles, including the probable high cost.

Per Urban Axes’s website, interested ax-throwers book ahead for groups or corporate events, although there are also some walk-in hours available, and there are coaches onsite to oversee throwing sessions and provide safety information. Ax-throwers of all abilities can also sign up for recreational and competitive leagues and can even qualify for participation in local and non-local competitions.

As for the actual axes, they’re 1.5-pound hatchets, and guests throw them at wooden targets in designated lanes, scoring points for hitting various parts of the target, similar to darts.

The existing Urban Axes locations don’t serve food but allow guests to bring their own.

A lot of ax-throwing bars have been popping up around the country in recent months, from Detroit to Charlotte to Brooklyn — it was only a matter of time before Somerville hopped onboard.

Stay tuned for more information on Somerville’s forthcoming location of Urban Axes, and keep an eye out for other locations around the country; there are eight or so more openings slated for 2018.

Update, 4:30 p.m.: In other local(ish) ax-throwing news, a reader notes that Agawam, Massachusetts is about to get its own ax-throwing spot, Agawam Axe House. Set to open this month, Agawam Axe House doesn’t serve its own drinks and sells only pre-packaged snacks, like jerky and chips, but guests can bring in their own food and beverages.

Update, January 12, 2018: Add Everett and Marlborough to the list.

Update, March 15, 2018: This story has been updated to include an exact address for Urban Axes Somerville, as it appears on the agenda for a March 15 Licensing Commission hearing, at which the business will request approval for a liquor license and common victualler license, as well as the ability to open before noon on Sundays.

• 2018 Preview: 10 Most Anticipated Boston Venues for Meetings and Events [BizBash]
• Do Drinking and Ax Throwing Mix? Boston Might Soon Find Out [BG]
• Urban Axes [Official Site]