Splittin’ Wood Axe Throwing — the popular venue for entertainment and the sport of ax throwing — has moved just around the corner at the Lewiston Mall and is back open.
Nearly four years ago, Christopher Nichols opened the only such venue in Lewiston and Auburn at 20 East Ave., Unit 10. It is now ensconced inside a new space at Unit 36. It sits next to the former Sliders and just down from the Family Dollar store.
A look inside Splittin’ Wood Axe Throwing’s new location in the Lewiston Mall on East Avenue in Lewiston on Tuesday night. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
Nichols told the Sun Journal Wednesday that thanks to his son and about 42 others — family, friends and league members who all pitched in — he was able to reopen the business in one week instead of being closed for two or three weeks.
“They just did an amazing job, I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t even say thank you to people. I was so overwhelmed by how many people helped me out.”
Step inside and regulars will notice some changes, starting with a higher ceiling and all new LED lighting. There are 13 ax-throwing lanes — two of which are a new concept for Splittin’ Wood, featuring projection games from software company Axcitement. There’s no extra charge to use the projection lanes and customers can choose from 16 different games.
A variety of axes, knives and other throwing weapons are pictured Tuesday night at Splittin’ Wood Axe Throwing in the Lewiston Mall on East Avenue in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
There is new seating, a pool table has been added to the mix and a bar area sits right up front — also new. In the old location “you had to wait and stand and not really have an area to go to until your area was ready,” Nichols explained. Now, you can walk in, register and have a seat until your lane is ready. There are now two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms, whereas the previous location had only one shared bathroom.
Bigger groups now have 90 minutes of play instead of 60 for the same price. “We found that an hour is not enough,” Nichols said. “You spend 15-minutes trying to get your coaching and try to learn how to throw an ax.”
There’s a limited kitchen with snacks and bar food offerings in addition to beer, wine, ciders and seltzers, but no mixed drinks.
Business hours are Wednesday and Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 3-11 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m.
The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or cwheelock@sunjournal.com
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