Naperville Liquor Commissioners rejected Axe Zone Throwing Lounge’s request for a liquor license Thursday, saying the owner did not provide enough information to ensure safety in a situation mixing “deadly weapons and alcohol.”
The business, which opened at 1592 W. Ogden Ave. in the fall, was seeking a Class M license to serve beer and wine. A strict limit of two drinks per person would be imposed, owner Mohsin Ali said.
Axe throwing is just like any other sport that’s offered for entertainment, Ali said, and “it is only dangerous if you don’t follow the rules.”
Commissioner Chuck Maher disagreed, saying it was more akin to a gun range asking to serve alcohol than a bowling alley that serves beer or a bar that has dart boards. The potential safety risks outweigh any benefits, he said.
Naperville police detective Dan Riggs, a liaison to the liquor commission, said the police department considers axes to be deadly weapons. He would not recommend mixing axe throwing with alcohol, he said.
Ali said multiple precautions are taken to ensure customers’ safety.
“We don’t sharpen the axes, we keep the edges blunt so they are less dangerous,” Ali said.
All patrons are given a demonstration on how to throw an axe safely before they begin and they are monitored by a team of four employees who circle the facility, he said.
Other axe throwing facilities in Aurora, Elmhurst and Chicago have been issued liquor licenses and have not had any problems, including other locations he owns, Ali said.
But Commissioner Anthony Signorella said he not convinced.
“Being sworn in today (as a new commissioner), coming up here and hearing axe throwing and alcohol, you know, I have some reservations with that,” Signorella said.
The commission also heard testimony from a representative for Naperville Animal Hospital, located a few doors down from Axe Zone Throwing Lounge.
Since the business opened a few months ago, animal hospital staff have frequently noticed people loitering in their parking lot at night and drinking in cars outside of the lounge, the representative said.
They’ve also noticed an increase in litter in the area and recently installed additional lights in their parking lot because staff did not feel safe walking to their cars, she said.
Riggs confirmed police had received reports of suspicious vehicles and littering.
“This is something that is kind of new on our radar,” Riggs said. “So we have upped our patrol of that area.”
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The animal hospital representative also alleged Ali had allowed patrons to bring their own alcohol into the business.
Commissioner Kimberly White said she could verify that because she found photos of customers inside of the facility with alcoholic beverages that had been posted to the axe lounge’s Facebook page.
Ali acknowledged there had been some confusion when they first opened about whether customers could bring in their own alcohol. In Chicago, customers are allowed to do so, he said.
Axe Zone is being promoted as “family friendly,” and it would seem serving alcohol would be contrary to that, White said.
Mayor Steve Chirico also voiced concerns that the layout of the facility does not allow for enough separation between the axe throwing lanes and the lounge area, where people would presumably be drinking alcohol.
According to the lounge’s website, there is no minimum age requirement other than children must be strong enough to hold a two-pound axe in order participate.
The combination of axe throwing, alcohol and children “is very concerning to me,” White said.
If Ali wants to fight the commission’s decision, he can appeal it to the Naperville City Council.
Kelli Duncan is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.