Southport Magazine

This month’s Biz Q&A features a business that isn’t quite open at press time, but it’s such a fun idea that we thought we just had to find out out about Throw Baxe, an axe throwing and board gaming spot coming to the old location of Barn & Beach Designs at 806 North Howe Street in Southport. Throw Baxe is the brain child of Briton Campbell Hollister and Kevin Hollister, and we spoke with Briton about what this will be and how it all will work.

First off, please explain your vision for Throw Baxe. What will the business look like at first and how will it evolve over time, ideally?

Our vision for Throw Baxe is a retro-themed, family-friendly entertainment destination that people of all ages can participate in and learn about the sport of axe throwing. For our board game enthusiasts, we will have a separate board game room with many games for play or you may bring your own. We are hoping to host game nights in the “board room” as well as group axe throwers for business team building.  Ideally, Throw Baxe will evolve into a local favorite and an annual destination for our tourist population

You’ll have a beer/wine license, how much of a “bar” do you see this becoming. How will it be different, if it is?  

We will have wine and beer as well as sodas at Throw Baxe.  We would rather not be thrown into the “bar” category.  We consider ourselves an axe house and game lounge with beer and wine.  We don’t actually have a bar you can sit at, just a place to order and some tables to observe.

We should speak to the safety aspect. How will you work to ensure everyone stays safe while axe throwing?

Safety of patrons is of utmost importance to us. Each visitor will be given instruction by our axe coaches on how to properly handle, throw, and retrieve axes prior to throwing. All of our “axeperts” have received proper safety training and can offer tutorials. Throughout the reservation, our team will monitor all throwers for safety, ensuring that all patrons are using safe and correct techniques, enhancing their experience. Our manager, Sarah Woody, has been throwing since 2018, and takes safety very seriously . Along with her training, she has both coaching and judge’s certifications. Sarah also throws in every discipline offered by the World Axe Throwing League.

Can you tell me a little about ax throwing, both as it’s done recreationally during a night out at a place like yours and, I guess, competitively? 

Axe Throwing has become a very popular sport across the country, especially competitively . For the future, we are taking the steps to become sanctioned by a national organization.  Throw Baxe league throwers will be able to earn weekly points and hopefully bids to higher regional, national, and world level events. This organization was founded in 2017, and has created a large following in the axe throwing community. Kevin began throwing regularly in 2018, and competitively through leagues in 2019, finishing within the top three every term.  For our recreational throwers, we would love to have them come in and learn the game and become regulars. We feel once people become relaxed around the venue and comfortable with throwing, they will truly enjoy it.

Will you have league play at Throw Baxe? 

Throw Baxe plans to hold leagues once we can announce our affiliation with the national organization. Due to the national cycle dates of the four leagues, each lasting eight weeks, we will very likely begin hosting leagues for the Fall 2022.  

What gave you the idea for this business?  What moved you to “pull the trigger” and invest in the idea?

The business started out as a crazy conversation coming home from leagues in Wilmington between Kevin and myself. We talked about how fun it would be to have our own place where we could work together all the time and still do something we enjoyed. At the time we were planning a wedding and we really didn’t have the capital so it wasn’t feasible.  After we were married we were able to sell some property so the hunt for a space began.  We decided that we would always wonder what if, if we didn’t just go for it.  With the help of our friend and realtor David Thorpe, who was in the right place at the right time, Throw Baxe got a home.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

Our biggest  challenge so far has been meeting our “target” date. Kevin and I are both still working and trying to juggle getting Throw Baxe ready with our day jobs.  Sarah has been an invaluable asset, making all the phone calls, receiving deliveries and setting up all the administrative details that we aren’t able to take care of.  Also our families and friends have chipped in to help including some of Kevin’s family all the way from Nebraska. There were quite a few details, permits and training that we just didn’t have any idea how long things would take. We have to give props to the city of Southport. Every question I had and every time I needed someone to come look at something, they were there.  Thanks to all the help we have received our new target date is the end of June.

What do you envision your customer base to look like? Who goes to an axe throwing place, typically?   

Our customer base is anyone who wants to learn to throw an axe, or anyone who likes to gather with friends and play board games.  There really isn’t an age limit for axe throwing, anyone can be taught. There also isn’t a level of fitness involved,  If someone thinks an axe would be too heavy for them to try, we will have some lighter weight ones available . Our “axeperts” are on hand to help anyone enjoy their experience as much as we do.

I LOVE the name, puns are a weakness of mine. Who came up with that? Is there something you were hoping to communicate with this name?

Kevin and I came up with the name Throw Baxe to incorporate my love for all things retro and his love of axe throwing.  Initially I wanted a 50’s 60’s theme, then Kevin reminded me that the 1980’s was retro now.  So our model for Throw Baxe became the Rubik’s cube mixed in with some 60’s/70’s pop art. That’s what you will see when you come into Throw Baxe, bright colors, a little neon, and a lot of fun.

What role can games, both the axe throwing and board games, play in a great night out with friends, or even meeting new ones? I guess I’m wanting your opinion on the importance of cooperative and competitive game play to our social life.

The best part of throwing axes at or playing in the “board room” with friends, either on a league or just for fun the is the camaraderie.  The intimate nature of playing a game or the trust you gain by throwing axes with a partner can instill lifelong friendships. 

You’re a Southport local, can you talk a little about what growing up here was like and what it means to bring something new to your community?

Growing up here in Southport, I guess I would say that opening an axe throwing establishment might seem a little progressive. I too love our little neighborhood like town and enjoy the quiet laid back atmosphere. I have seen many new and exciting things introduced to Southport bringing with them new families, new jobs, new places to hang out with our friends, places to bring our families when they visit. After visiting a few axe throwing venues, I began to see the potential a place like this could have in Southport.  Axe throwing venues aren’t exactly a new concept even though we are the first in Brunswick County.  I am hoping that Throw Baxe will be a positive source of entertainment, that families will gather in our “board room” on rainy days or when it is too hot to go to the beach, that first dates, young couples and seniors, will come and learn something new, that friends have a place to gather and play cards or have a friendly competitive game of axe throwing, maybe even host a bridge club.  We would like Throw Baxe to be all inclusive where anyone can come and find something to enjoy.

Please feel free to add anything else you’d like to share.

We are working on getting our online reservations in place, with all the enthusiasm from our locals , a reservation may be a safe bet, but you can always come in to observe. We will also accommodate walk-ins when available. One more thing, considering the local footwear is flip flops, you must wear closed toe shoes to participate in axe throwing, otherwise come as you are.