Dueling Axes has permanently closed all five of its axe-throwing sports bars, bringing an eight-year run to an unexpected end while leaving the specific reason for the shutdown undisclosed. The Columbus, Ohio-based company said circumstances beyond its control led to the closures, which took effect by July 31, even as no bankruptcy filing had been reported.
Five Locations Go Dark With Few Details
The shutdown brings the Dueling Axes concept to an abrupt end across Ohio and Nevada, affecting locations in Downtown Columbus, New Albany, Grove City, Cincinnati and Las Vegas. The business combined competitive axe throwing with the atmosphere of a sports bar, placing throwing lanes and targets behind protective netting while large-format television screens gave customers a place to follow sporting events. Some locations also operated kitchens and served meals alongside drinks and axe-throwing sessions.
The closures are notable because Dueling Axes had continued expanding relatively recently, opening its Grove City location in July 2025 and its Cincinnati venue the following month. Yet by July 31, all five locations had shut down. According to WCMH-TV in Columbus, the company attributed the outcome to factors it could not control but did not identify those factors publicly.
No detailed explanation involving leases, operating costs, sales, financing or another specific business issue was provided. The company also had not filed for bankruptcy at the latest reported check, distinguishing the shutdown from restaurant and entertainment businesses that close locations while restructuring through bankruptcy court. A company spokesperson was reportedly unavailable for additional comment, leaving its public statement as the clearest explanation of what happened.
“The closures resulted from circumstances outside our control and we are deeply saddened that our eight-year journey has ended this way,” Dueling Axes said in a statement. “For now, founders Paul and Jess are focused on responsibly wrapping up the company’s operations and moving forward into their next chapter.”
Ax-throwing chain closes all locations — including Cincinnati: https://t.co/vxgqrKNFtR pic.twitter.com/89xkHVDijC
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) August 9, 2026
An Eight-Year Business Ends After Recent Expansion
Dueling Axes traces its origins to 2018, when co-owners Jess Hellmich and Paul Sherry established the first venue in Downtown Columbus. Its model was built around an entertainment format that became increasingly visible in U.S. cities during the late 2010s: customers could reserve throwing lanes, compete against friends or colleagues and combine the activity with drinks and televised sports. Targets were positioned in dedicated lanes separated by netted barriers, creating an experience closer to a bowling alley or other activity-based entertainment venue than a conventional neighborhood bar.
The Downtown Columbus location did not sell food itself and instead allowed customers to bring food from outside establishments. Other Dueling Axes properties adopted a broader hospitality model. The Cincinnati venue, for example, operated a kitchen whose menu included flatbread pizzas, Cuban sandwiches, paninis, nachos and tots, according to information published on the company’s website.
That combination allowed Dueling Axes to compete not only for sports-bar customers but also for birthdays, corporate gatherings, dates and group celebrations. Its geographic footprint grew when locations in New Albany, Ohio, and Las Vegas opened in December 2020. Expansion continued years later with Grove City and Cincinnati, meaning two of the company’s venues had been operating for only about a year when the entire chain closed. That timing makes the unexplained end particularly striking: the company moved from opening new sites to shutting down its complete portfolio within a relatively short period.
New Albany Customers Receive A Final Farewell
The company’s message to customers provides more detail about the emotional impact of the shutdown than about the business conditions behind it. On the webpage for its New Albany/Hamilton Quarter venue, Dueling Axes confirmed that the location would not reopen and thanked the community that had supported it. The wording emphasized the range of occasions that had brought customers through its doors, reflecting how the business marketed itself as both an entertainment venue and a gathering place.
“This location has permanently closed. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our New Albany/Hamilton Quarter location,” the message read. The statement did not identify a specific financial, operational or legal event behind that decision, mirroring the limited explanation surrounding the closure of the wider chain. Instead, the company focused its farewell on the people connected with the venue.
“We are incredibly grateful to every guest, team member, neighbor, and partner who supported this location over the years. Thank you for choosing us for your nights out, celebrations, team events, birthdays, date nights, and everything in between.”
That message underscores the broad group-event strategy behind the concept, where revenue depended on customers choosing the venue for experiences rather than simply drinks or meals. The company ended its New Albany message on a personal note: “Thank you, New Albany. We appreciate your support more than you know,” the message concluded.
