Downtown Axe-Throwing Spot to Shut its Doors

A local axe-throwing bar, Unofficial Logging Co., announced Monday evening that it will close its downtown Bend taphouse after July 2. The taphouse, located on the corner of Greenwood Avenue and NW Harriman Street, cited a series of challenges since the pandemic.

The bar opened in 2019, offering axe-throwing, 18 taps of craft beer and a full kitchen. The spot also offered a mobile axe-throwing trailer for events. According to owner John Heylin, the mobile axe-throwing is still available, just not on site at its Greenwood Ave location.

According to a Facebook post announcing the closure, the crew aimed to create a place where people could gather, laugh and connect. But, just a few months after opening, the pandemic started and almost forced them to shut down.

From there, a series of challenges came along that “never seemed to stop,” according to Heylin.

“After COVID came the lumber crisis, with prices tripling overnight. Then we faced staffing shortages that never really let up. Then inflation. Then tariffs. And now, in 2025, economic uncertainty is the new normal. People are tightening their budgets,” Heylin wrote.

While attempting to do everything they could to stay afloat, sales are down 40% from the year before.

“We’ve done everything we could to stay afloat, but this year our sales are down 40% from the year before. That isn’t a marketing issue or a temporary slump. It’s a signal that something deeper is happening. Axe throwing is fun, but when compared to food, rent, health care, or insurance, it’s a luxury. And luxuries just don’t survive in economies like this one.”

In the press release, Heylin shared that the taphouse also hosted concerts, fundraisers, first dates, weddings, baby showers, festivals and other community gatherings. In addition, the press release stated, the bar has contributed more than $5 million into the local economy over the last six years.

Before the downturn, Heylin told the Source, the bar employed about 12 to 15 part-time and full-time employees. As it’s been struggling, they’ve had to close the kitchen and lose their back of house staff. As of July 1, Unofficial Logging Co. employed about seven people.

In May, following the closure of long-standing restaurant 900 Wall, the Source spoke with several restaurant owners in downtown Bend, who reported a drop-off in customers in recent months.

Local restaurants like The Jackalope Grill and Wild Rose, among others, said rising costs associated with dining out were resulting in fewer overall customers.

Others felt that increased traffic concerns, and parking constraints, were deterring customers from coming downtown.

Local shop Wild Petals Provisions also reported seeing a decline in customers back in May.

Some restaurants and business owners were hopeful that summer would improve their sales, with more customers coming in.

While Wild Petals is still seeing local customers come into the shop, Owner Nancy Zadoff told the Source, people aren’t spending like they used to. Last month was the second month of not meeting last year’s numbers. She is seeing some tourism, now that it’s summer, but says it’s not the same as previous years.

“I’m not the only person who’s in the same position. I’m constantly talking to other small business owners and big business owners and restaurants, just checking in, and things are tight,” she told the Source. “We all have our fingers crossed that, you know, July is going to be a phenomenal, great month for everybody. Not just me, but for everybody.”

While Heylin is disappointed that his business is coming to a close, he hopes things don’t continue trending that way for other business owners.

“Running a small business means you’re pretty much dancing with financial ruin almost every other day. It can be stressful and it’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding because we like doing it, and we, like being a member of the community,” he told the Source on July 1.

“As this continues, and there’s probably going to be more closures, just think of the people that started these businesses and be kind to them.”

This article appears in Source Weekly June 26, 2025.