Video Filmed by Saad Ahmed | Edited by Kristen Miller
Competitive axe throwing has been gaining popularity in the tri-state area recently, with franchises like Bury The Hatchet mainly spread across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with other locations in New York, Georgia and Kansas.
According to Bury The Hatchet’s website, axe throwing is “like playing darts but with axes.” It’s also a good stress reliever according to many regulars.
The first Bury The Hatchet has been open for about 2 years, according to Tyler Durso-Finley, former Mercer student and a current “Axe Master” at the Princeton, New Jersey location. Many different kinds of groups can be found at the establishment at any given time.
Durso-Finely says, “We get all sorts of groups coming through: birthday parties, corporate team building events. I first came here with my family as part of spring break, doing family things together. Some people just want to throw axes. It’s pretty cool.”
Howard Klotzkin and his partner Tal Kalif are the owners of the local Bury The Hatchet. Heidi Neuflev, the Director of Operations, worked with Klotzkin before Bury the Hatchet even started. They own nine Escape Room game centers as well.
Neuflev states that Klotzkin first came across axe throwing in Canada and saw a business opportunity when he returned back home.
“When he came back to the United States, [Klotzkin] knew that it was something that wasn’t really very well known [here] at all…that was three years ago and now we have almost 15 locations,” Neuflev said.
When someone first thinks of axe throwing, they may think it is a dangerous sport. However, the employees of Bury the Hatchet are very conscientious of safety.
Neuflev described a recent viral video at a different axe throwing establishment where a young woman threw a hatchet toward a target only for the weapon to ricochet off the floor and come flying back, almost striking her in the head.
By comparison, Bury the Hatchet has “specific boards that are bounce back boards…we have foam padding behind the plates so that our axes don’t bounce back,” Neuflev said.
No prior experience is necessary before coming to Bury The Hatchet and it takes about five to ten minutes to learn how to throw an axe. Anyone over the age of 14 is allowed to throw axes at the Princeton location, but minors must be supervised by a parent.
“It’s fun for people over 14. It’s fun for couples. It’s fun for date night. It’s fun for team building,” Neuflev said.
In addition to axe throwing, Bury the Hatchet also has giant board games set up in the lobby at each of their locations. Jenga, Battleship, Connect Four, Charades and Giant Dice are among the options customers can choose from.
“Some of the other axe throwing places are fun but we try to make it a real experience because we really play with you the whole time that you’re there,” Neuflev said.
Axe throwing league member Dominic Diliberto said that although he came across Bury The Hatchet by chance, he was glad he stumbled upon it.
“I was actually driving by and I saw the sign. It was right before they opened up, so I looked it up on the Internet… Right before they opened up I came in and I joined the league,” Diliberto said.
“I would definitely recommend it,” Diliberto added. “It beats doing laundry.”
For any student who interested in an experience like axe-throwing, Bury the Hatchet offers “College Night” which is $15 for 1 hour every Wednesday night from 4pm-10pm.
