LOOK INSIDE: Blade & Timber raises the bar (and kitchen) with Power & Light axe throwing
August 27, 2019 | Tommy Felts
When Blade & Timber officially opens this weekend at Power & Light, the two-year-old startup concept will set a new standard for the growing experiences industry, said Jessie Poole.
Axes and Alcohol?
“Axes and alcohol … what could wrong, right? We specifically have 12-ounce cups, which keeps our beer size consistent. They’re allowed up to three beers. The wine is a new addition, with 5-ounce pours. So we can really monitor alcohol consumption.”
— Jessie Poole, communication director, Blade & Timber
“We want to show people ‘This is what you should expect from an axe-throwing experience,’” said Poole, communication director for Blade & Timber. “We’ve been upping the aesthetics to better fit Power & Light. We’ve added food service and beverage service, and still maintain a high quality of customer service when it comes to the lanes.”
The new flagship location — 1303 Baltimore Ave. — boasts 11 axe throwing lanes, a beer and wine menu, full kitchen, darts and yard games. The menu features fried chicken, waffles, sauces made from scratch and more, crafted by James Beard Award Semifinalist Taylor Petrehn, co-owner of 1900 Barker Bakery and Cafe in Lawrence.
“We’re asking a lot of our staff now, but they seem very excited about the challenge and the opportunity,” Poole said, noting that new additions give the space a competitive edge in a market that has seen numerous other axe-throwing businesses open since Blade & Timber debuted in fall 2017 in the West Bottoms.
“It’s a good growth opportunity for the brand,” she said. “The restaurant element gives people a reason to stay longer, to plan a whole experience around the space. We’re hoping to roll this out across the nation too, extending this concept to our existing locations.”
Blade & Timber now has six locations, spread between Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, Honolulu and Seattle. Its parent company, Swell Spark, was selected as one of Startland’s Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018.
The downtown geography of the Power & Light entertainment district provides its own unique opportunity to strengthen the brand, Poole said, moving the concept beyond the localized demographics of its axe-throwing experiences in Leawood and former flagship space in the West Bottoms.
“Just in the few days since our soft opening, we’ve already captured a lot of tourism traffic, convention traffic — people who never would have thrown axes in our West Bottoms location,” she said. “That could be huge as we grow our brand nationally.”
A ribbon cutting is planned at the Power & Light space 8:30 a.m. Friday, with the first 75 guests receiving a free gift. Throughout the weekend, guests could win free waffles for one year when they post their best bullseye on Instagram. Blade & Timber will also give away free merchandise, waffles and more all weekend long.
More about Blade & Timber
Blade & Timber promotes teaching anyone ages 10 and up how to master the bullseye, with each guest receiving a one-on-one lesson by a Blade & Timber safety-certified axe coach. Coaches are present throughout the 1.5-hour axe throwing experience, teaching trick shots, new axe throwing games and maintaining safety at all times.
Click here to learn more.
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