By Recker McDowell —
Urban Axes — a bar concept that combines socializing with axe throwing — is opening a new location in downtown Phoenix’s Warehouse District.
The business model is a somewhat akin to Top Golf just substitute axe throwing for hitting golf balls.
Urban Axes already has locations in Austin, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Houston, Cincinnati and Durham, North Carolina. The Phoenix location is scheduled to open next month.
The concept’s opening in the Warehouse District on South First Street near Central Avenue shows how far the area south of Talking Stick Resort Arena and Chase Field has come.
The Warehouse District has seen its gritty collection of older buildings that date back to World War II and the early 20th Century attract some creative businesses and adaptive reuse projects.
Architecture firms Gould Evans and CCBG, advertising firm R&R Partners and tech firm WebPT have all opened offices in old warehouse buildings.
Galvanize also has a technology and software hub in the Warehouse District. Arizona State University has arts programs in area south of downtown’s office buildings and sports venues.
The area has some of the coolest buildings and spaces in a Phoenix region often knocked for its lack of architectural and design creativity.
Next in its evolution will be more cool entertainment spaces such as bars, restaurants and coffee shops. That will be key to the Warehouse District’s continued growth.
There are already a few venues such as The Duce but if area is going to continue to attract creatives and cool companies and be more of an evening and weekend destination it will need even more concepts likes Urban Axes.
