Another ax-throwing bar is planned in Milwaukee, this time for the city’s East Side.
Marla and David Poytinger have signed a lease with New Land Enterprises to open AXE MKE at 1924 E. Kenilworth Place.
“Think of a cross between bowling and darts,” said Marla Poytinger. “You can rent a lane or two, grab drinks from the bar, and kick back for some friendly ‘lumberjack-style’ competition. It’s insanely fun.”
AXE MKE will include several throwing cages, a full bar, and a private event space. It will become the latest entertainment option to the neighborhood.
“Within a one block radius, you’ll have AXE MKE, Nine Below (a miniature golf bar), and Landmark Lanes,” David Poytinger said.
The couple opened Splash Studio, a painting bar in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward neighborhood six years ago and Nine Below in September 2016.
“Ax throwing is a sport that has traditionally been done outside, or in industrial warehouses,” Marla Poytinger said. “We’re bringing it downtown and adding some exciting new elements to make it perfect for an adrenaline-filled adventure, date, private event or even corporate team building,”
East Side BID director Kristin Godfrey said the project is a coup for the neighborhood.
“I love the direction the East Side is going, and I’m so glad owner/operators like Marla and David are continuing to invest in the area,” Godfrey said. “They know the concept bar industry inside and out, and all of their businesses are professional, safe, and incredibly popular.”
AXE MKE, is slated to open this summer.
This will be the second ax throwing bar in Milwaukee.
The owners of Bounce Milwaukee, Bay View’s inflatable sports arena, are currently building a six-lane ax throwing venue that is expected to be complete by the end of winter.
The first ax-throwing bar in North America is believed to have started in Toronto in 2011, according to Forbes. Today there are ax-throwing bars in Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, Austin, Charlotte, Denver and Brooklyn.
According to the National Axe Federation, there are about 3,000 league members in 41 cities and five countries.
