JACKSON, MI – Savanah Sheets and Shane Stephens opened an escape room in Jackson four years ago with something to prove: You don’t have to leave Jackson to have fun.
Sheets and Stephens are at it again, with plans to open an ax-throwing bar downtown at 133 W. Michigan Ave., Suite D.
“When we started EpIQ Escapes, we just wanted to make Jackson more fun,” Stephens said. “We’ve heard people say, ‘Oh, there’s no fun in Jackson, you’ve got to go to Lansing or Ann Arbor.’ They’re wrong.”
The ax-throwing bar, called Axe Play, is on pace to open this summer. The space has five lanes, with two targets in each lane. They’re 15 feet long and 12 feet wide. Everything is being built to World Axe Throwing League standards.
It’ll cost roughly $25 per person, per hour. Some lanes can be reserved, while others are for walk-in customers.
Sheets and Stephens, longtime friends and business partners, developed the idea after meeting another escape room owner planning to open an ax-throwing bar. They decided to see what the hype was about at Detroit Axe, in Ferndale.
"I was nervous the first time. Once you get used to it and stop being scared, you actually throw a lot better," Sheets said. "It's definitely an adrenaline rush."
Don’t fret, ax-throwing rookies – each lane will have a dedicated coach – or “ax master” – to keep score and show people how to grasp and throw the ax. The closer to the bulls-eye, the more points a thrower gets.
The ax master, plus the WATL safety standards, will help with safety – the pair said there are always concerns when combining axes and alcohol.
“Just like any bar, if someone starts to get out of hand, we’re going to be able to handle it,” Stephens said.
Axe Play will have a bar featuring seven signature cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks. Stephens’ family worked with carnivals for years, so he’s bringing the family fresh-squeezed lemonade recipe, too.
They won't serve food, but rather encourage people to visit restaurants downtown.
Cocktails are being created by Sheets and Stephens with a smattering of fresh ingredients, like basil and balsamic vinegar.
"We just picked our favorite ingredients and said, 'Let's see how we can do this,'" Stephens said.
Axe Play is filling a spot that’s been vacant for years downtown. It was previously the cafeteria of the Crouch Senior Center. Sheets and Stephens are in the process of remodeling the space with a lumberjack-chic feel – including a moose head, plaid and leather couches.
To raise money for the project, Axe Play will launch a Kickstarter campaign April 30. Contributors will get a variety of perks and become “Ax Club members” once the business opens. If $15,000 isn’t raised within 30 days, supporters get their money back and Axe Play doesn’t get anything.
“We see a lot of passion for Jackson – we’re not the only ones who feel this way about making our city great,” Stephens said. “We’re hoping to see them rally behind us.”