Axe throwing establishment passes another hurdle to get liquor license

No discussion, no questions and a unanimous yes vote came in Tuesday for an axe-throwing establishment to get a liquor and beer license in La Crosse.

Driftless Axe passed another hurdle in the city, as it gets set to open in September on Fourth Street, downtown.

Tuesday, a council committee gave its approval for license through the city. Next up, the full city council.

There doesn’t seem to be much opposition to the bar, though the concept of drinking and throwing axes sounds like a funny — even dangerous — combination, even for owner Toby Farley.

“At first glance, ‘Oh no, alcohol and sharp objects.'” Farley said. “On the other side, there are thousands of these already around. We just happen to be in a city that doesn’t have one yet.”

Farley says the ability to grab some food and have a beer while competing, completes the experience.

“Is it What makes people throw an axe better?” Farley asked of having a drink. “Probably not.”

Farley says they will be extremely strict when it comes to alcohol use and competing.

“I have no intention of having a ‘Let’s go get wasted downtown’ bar,” Farley, who also owns the Great Escape Room, downtown, said. “Especially when you have sharp objects and tournaments going on. Our plan is to be ridiculously stringent.”