Hatchet-throwing venue ‘axes’ permission to open at Janss mall

Planning commission will vote on proposal Monday



The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission will vote Monday on whether to grant a special-use permit to The Mighty Axe, an entertainment venue proposed for the Janss mall. Visitors 12 and up would have the chance to hurl small hatchets at giant wooden targets. Craft beer would be served. Image from themightyaxe.com

Got an axe to grind? A new venture hoping to open at Janss Marketplace wants to offer a place for visitors to bury the hatchet.

The Mighty Axe, which touts itself online as an axe-throwing and ales venue, plans to open in a vacant 3,200-square-foot space formerly occupied by a beauty supply store in the interior of the Thousand Oaks mall on Moorpark Road.

First, though, it’s got to get an all-clear from the planning commission.

Like fellow Janss mall spots Regal Cinemas, Dave & Buster’s and Defy Aerial Sports trampoline park (previously Dojo Boom), The Mighty Axe would be classified as a recreational/entertainment venue and therefore requires a special-use permit.

To get one, it will need a majority vote of approval from the commission, which is scheduled to hear the matter during its 6 p.m. meeting Mon., Sept. 21.

The Mighty Axe would feature six 230-square-foot bays for people 12 and up to throw hatchets at giant wooden targets. Those bays would be fenced off and separate from the bar area—which would serve beer only—and another section for virtual reality games, according to a city staff report attached to the Sept. 21 agenda.

Staff is recommending approval.

Each group of hatchet throwers will be assigned a staff member, dubbed “axe-perts,” to demonstrate the activity and go over safety protocols. Hatchets not in use will remain locked away, and no outside axes will be permitted. No alcohol consumption will be allowed in the axe-throwing areas. The spaces could be rented out for birthday parties or corporate events.

“Axe throwing may seem like a dangerous activity, but in our research, it is a relatively safe sport with similar injury and danger potentials as compared to bowling,” The Mighty Axe says in the safety plan it submitted to the city. “We have spoken to insurance companies that exclusively insure axe-throwing businesses and they reported that with over 300 clients they have yet to have a serious accident.”

While food would not be served inside the business, visitors would be welcome to bring in meals from any of the mall’s restaurants, Mighty Axe says on its website. The proposed location is between Crazy King Kong Sushi and Lucky’s Dog House.

NewMark Merrill, which owns the marketplace, said in a letter of support for the new business that Mighty Axe would not only benefit the restaurants at the mall by attracting more guests but would be a bonus for the city in general. The nearest venue offering hatchet throwing is in Simi Valley (Lazertag Axtreme).

“It adds another entertainment option in Thousand Oaks which helps to keep the communities’ valuable entertainment dollars within the city limits,” wrote Ryan Bradley, director of leasing.

Monday’s hearing can be viewed on TOTV or through the city’s website at toaks.org/TOTV. Mighty Axe is the last of three items on the commission’s agenda.

Since City Hall remains closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, residents hoping to address the commission on the matter must email communitydevelopment@toaks.org or call (805) 449-2500 no later than 10 a.m. Monday. Those interested can ask to speak online here.