Live Axe: Eat, Drink Throw – Modern Axe Throwing Experience In Manhattan

Creator: Zac Segal

Live Axe, a bar and lounge featuring axe throwing, brings a sophisticated, New York City-level experience to this activity that has become popular across the U.S. Manhattan’s first axe-throwing venue, Live Axe offers delicious food, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, an elevated cocktail menu in a Viking-themed bar, and chic, Instagram-friendly industrial design in its 10,000 square-foot Soho space. And no worries, it’s perfectly safe to hang out there – the axe throwing is relegated to cages and guided by highly trained “Axperts” called Cage Captains.

Instagram Backdrops

“We elevated the experience, it’s not just a barn or warehouse,” says founder Zac Segal. “I don’t think there’s any other axe throwing place in the world that does it the way we do, with everything – the music, the food, the drinks, the design – together.”
Throughout the stylish space graphic walls designed by different artists in a variety of materials provide perfect Instagram backdrops. “The vibe is like going to a fancy lounge in Manhattan,” says Segal.

The Draw

Part of the experience is in doing something unique, something that most people haven’t done before. There’s a strong social aspect. “You get excited. You see people being tense, and then half an hour later, screaming and yelling and rooting for their friends, getting very competitive,” Segal explains. As it’s a fairly new activity, there are not many people who are really good at it, so everyone is competing at the same level, and you don’t feel intimidated. “Unlike, say, bowling, where there are people who have been playing since they were young.” says Segal.

Inner Viking

Throwing an axe is a vigorous activity, you’re moving your body, using energy. The cage captains offer encouragement and tips on stance and accuracy. Opened during the pandemic, Live Axe faced some delays due to Covid-related restrictions, but has now been steadily operating since December, with social-distancing and other protocols in place. Axe-throwing is not required, and in fact, a lot of well-dressed folks come by after dinner for drinks. The bar recommends that people wear flat shoes, but they do have some on-hand for those in heels or sandals who decide spur of the moment to embrace their inner Viking.

Popular With All Ages

The proprietors have been amazed at the variety of people Live Axe has attracted. A few months ago, a woman held a 35th birthday party there with over 45 guests. Not long after, the birthday girl’s mother celebrated her 76th at the venue with a bunch of female friends, all of similar age. “They had so much fun, these mature ladies,” Segal says. “And they said next time they’re bringing their husbands.”

Corporate Events

Segal has been surprised at how popular the place has proven for corporate events. “ People are branching out, and it’s fun for everybody,” he says. With different sections on different levels, parties can have their own space, or even their own floor, in which to mingle, munch and imbibe near their dedicated cage for those who wish to throw.

Rage Room & Global Expansion

In the planning stages is a “rage room,” in which you are invited to break things. It could be plates or glassware, or monitors , computer, or anything that comes to mind . (We can all relate to that!) You choose your weapon, perhaps a sledgehammer, baseball bat, or, yes, an axe, and smash the object. Loud music may be your accompaniment, getting you even more keyed up – or more concisely, more gleefully vengeful.
“It definitely matches axe throwing, so I’m not going in different directions. It’s adding one more way to be active, to be social.” Explains Zac. In the future, he’s planning to open additional Live Axe locations, in big cities both in the U.S. and abroad.

IDF Soldier & Serial Entrepreneur

His stint as a solder in the Israeli Defense Force did not inspire the concept for Live Axe. Based in New York for the past six years, Segal realized that our hectic lifestyles, often spent hunched over computers, leave minimal opportunities for social interaction.
He wondered what people can do to charge their batteries. “Do I want to do something social, or with activities, because I was sitting all day? Do I want good food and drink? And what if I could do something that combined all three?” A serial entrepreneur, Segal had earlier started a chain of high-end retail stores with locations around the U.S.

JustOne

Now, he is about to launch an app called JustOne that allows users to give tips to service workers or donate to charity with just one click. The idea is to tip the parking attendant or bellhop a few dollars, even if you don’t have cash with you. “It’s basically the simplest way to send someone gratitude,” he says. liveaxe.com