Axe Throwing Society Hits the Bull's-Eye in Pompano Beach

Got an ax to grind? There’s a new spot for that.

Axe Throwing Society (ATS), a 5,400-square-foot, indoor ax-throwing experience in Pompano Beach, opened June 27. For $20 per hour, anyone can take out aggression by hurling sharp blades at wooden targets. Earlier this month, the place on West Copans Road hosted the event Axe Your Ex!, where folks could throw the blades at photos of their former flames. Expect other unconventional gatherings in coming months.

“For August, we have a couple of Moms' Night Out events in the works,” owner Jeff Morford says. “For now, we’re also focused on corporate events and can host up to 120 people for a single event. There is a lot going on.”

ATS was inspired by a weekend trip Morford took a couple of years ago while visiting his daughters in Austin, Texas. When they took him to a local joint called Urban Axes, Morford tried it out and “never had so much fun,” he says.

“Afterward, I actually went back and talked to the owner of that spot for two hours... and thought this would be so cool in South Florida,” Morford says. “I had spent 30 years in the education system, and it was time to branch out.”

Fast-forward to the present day, and Morford has brought his vision to life and built an entertainment hot spot. There’s much more to ATS than chucking axes.
“We don’t look like a chicken coop,” he laughs. “Too many of these places look like a chicken coop, with wire and plywood... We wanted it to look like a sports bar. So we have TVs, shuffleboard, Jenga, granite, and nice counters.”

The beverage menu includes brews from Funky Buddha and Cigar City, while food options include flatbreads, sausage, and pretzels.

The space is also home to the only official World Axe Throwing League (WATL) in South Florida. Its inaugural league kicked off July 8 with 19 people. The group, comprising novices and experts, meets every Monday evening.

“We wanted our first league to be limited, but this fall we’ll open it up to possibly 70 people,” Morford says. “You don’t have to be an 'ax-pert' to be in our leagues or come in. But I will say this to anyone who visits: Get ready to be addicted to a new sport.”

Axe Throwing Society. 1301 W. Copans Rd., Pompano Beach; 754-222-9370; axethrowingsociety.com. Monday and Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight, Sunday 2 to 8 p.m.