D.C.’s Newest Ax-Throwing Bar Is Surrounded By Distilleries

Next week, Ivy City will get a massive new two-level venue that invites visitors to the distillery-dense neighborhood to hurl axes at wooden targets, try “iceless” curling, and sip cocktails in a cabana.

According to an announcement, the 22,000-square-foot space will “soft open” Friday, January 31, with a full-blown opening slated for Thursday, February 6 (1401 Okie Street NE).

A dozen ax-throwing ranges span the first floor at Kick Axe Throwing, a growing chain with locations in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. While food and drink details are slim for now, the newest location promises a full kitchen and bar. Its Brooklyn location, for instance, serves pizza and welcomes outside operators like Dino BBQ.

Up top, five “iceless” curling rinks and six “footbowl” lanes — which entail knocking down pins with a football — operate under the moniker THRōW Social DC.

THRōW Social DC [official]

The cuisine will also mirror each floor’s theme. Ax-throwing players can expect comfort foods like smoked beef short ribs slathered in barbecue sauce, Bavarian pretzel sticks with cheese dip, and warm kettle chips with bleu cheese and alfredo. The upstairs social club plans to sling laid-back bites like jerk chicken skewers and empanadas.

The business comes from Ginger Flesher-Sonnier, the founder of Escape Room Live. She started her escape room business in D.C. in 2014 and has since expanded to NYC.

The new Ivy City complex gives off winter and summer vibes on different levels. The ax-throwing floor, outfitted with fireplaces and a rustic lodge look, is fit for a lumberjack. The summery second floor goes the tropical route with cabanas, neon signage, and swaying palms.

Hours will be 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; noon to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.

All ages are welcome on the THRōW Social DC level. Kids 8-and-up can throw an ax. There’s also an option of subbing foam axes in for metal ones. The venue is staffed with “ax pros” to ensure no one gets hurt.

Pricing is $29 per person per hour to play around on each floor.

D.C. got its first first ax-throwing bar with the opening of Kraken Axes in Park View in 2018. Bad Axe, “the world’s biggest urban axe throwing club” that started in Canada, also has locations in Northeast (2419 Evarts Street NE) and the Mosaic District.

Ivy City has become a popular landing place for local craft distillers such as Republic Restoratives, New Columbia Distillers, and One Eight Distilling. Atlas Brew Works is based there, and amaro maker Don Ciccio & Figli just opened a new facility there with an adjoining bar, Sirenis.

• An Alluring New Amaro Bar Opens This Weekend in Ivy City [EDC]
• Ivy City Distiller Jos. A. Magnus Slashes Staff Amid National Expansion [EDC]