Axe-throwing venue opens as The Plaza in Jacksonville takes shape - Jacksonville Journal-Courier

"It was an implicit messiness erstwhile we got the building. It took america 2 months to cleanable it retired and demolish what we needed to demolish. We needed different 2 months to physique it," John Rohn said.

"When you spell into a place, you person a imagination astir however it could go. If you told maine 4 months agone that we would beryllium wherever we are now, I would person been ecstatic," Rohn said. "I americium thrilled with the prospects. I americium thankful for the contractors, and everyone other who helped propulsion this off."

The Rohns, who besides ain K's Creek Golf Club & Kitchen 63 and Fitness World, bought the gathering successful September. The archetypal level of The Plaza has 16,000 quadrate feet of retail space, portion the 2nd level volition incorporate 14,000 quadrate feet of bureau space.

The archetypal level of the gathering volition big six businesses, and Rohn hopes to person the full archetypal level unfastened by March 1.

"We person six retail spots connected the archetypal floor. Five spaces are rented, and we are adjacent connected the sixth. We expect immoderate if not each to beryllium unfastened successful the adjacent 45 to 60 days. But that's not my decision, obviously, it volition beryllium the tenant's determination erstwhile to open," Rohn said. "We're hoping to person a large announcement soon connected the 2nd floor."

Other tenants astatine The Plaza see the Springfield Beer Co.; Eunoia Mama Co. Beauty, a cosmetics and idiosyncratic attraction store; Willow Branch Women & Children's Boutique; and Rooted Homestead, a location goods store.

It's nary mishap The Vault is the archetypal venue to beryllium unfastened to the public.

"We did that by design, truthful radical knew an enactment was successful spot truthful we could make postulation for our different tenants," Rohn said.

The flight country is virtual world and arsenic galore arsenic six radical tin spell into the room, enactment connected virtual world headsets and acquisition 1 of 8 flight rooms. Each are wholly different, Rohn said, including a pirate ship, nether the sea, and escaping a operation that involves shooting a dragon. Anyone implicit the property of 8 tin beryllium successful the flight room, but those nether 18 indispensable beryllium accompanied by a guardian.

"It's much than uncovering a cardinal and escaping. It's a team-building, multiplayer experience," Rohn said.

On the axe broadside of the business, determination are 8 lanes with country for 4 to six players. The property bounds is 13.

A bully assemblage streamed into The Vault soon earlier 6 p.m. Wednesday and manager Brian Davenport and worker Brandy Walker were determination to greet them, get waivers signed and get acceptable to throw.

The Rohns ain the business, but John Rohn said it is Davenport's babe to run. Davenport and 7 different employees were hired to thin barroom and oversee activities.

One of the archetypal orders of concern aft everyone has checked successful is to get an axe-throwing acquisition and information instructions.

Davenport demonstrated throwing techniques, which tin beryllium holding the axe with 1 oregon 2 hands. Davenport recommended 2 hands for beginners.

"Bring it consecutive backmost and past consecutive forward. Don't flick it, conscionable fto it go," Davenport told the archetypal radical of throwers. "Throw it similar a baseball. It takes a small practice, but it's not that hard to marque it stick."

The Rohns became funny successful axe throwing aft a travel to St. Louis.

"Rachel and I threw axes for 2 hours and loved it. We looked astatine this arsenic thing for young adults to do. We emotion the golfers, but this is different. This is the benignant of happening for a day nighttime oregon conscionable bent retired with friends," Rohn said.

Axe throwing is gaining popularity arsenic a sport. Over the past fewer years, venues person popped up successful Chatham, Jerseyville, East Alton, Edwardsville, and Quincy.

"The athletics is growing. You tin find it connected ESPN 2. There is simply a World Axe Throwing League. Throwing an axe has aforesaid benignant of ambiance arsenic darts and cornhole. It's a large clip and large acceptable for downtown Jacksonville," Rohn said.

"We volition bash backstage parties wherever we rent full place. Several radical person booked parties 2 months out. We person groups coming from Springfield and Auburn. We are excited for that," Rohn said. "A afloat barroom is available, but this not a bar. We did this truthful determination tin beryllium a harmless and amusive situation successful our hometown."

Hours of cognition are 4-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; and noon-8 p.m. Sunday. The Vault is closed Monday and Tuesday. Walk-ins are invited if abstraction is available, but reservations are preferred.