07/03/2026
Good morning, all! Wanted to give you a quick update to let you know what we are up to at JJ's Axes & Ales... Not much... Summers are usually pretty quiet.
We started this thing back in October of 2018 to bring something new and exciting to Sioux Falls. It was great for a while, then the pandemic hit and kind of derailed the concept a little.
When we moved to our space at 3016 W 57th St in August of 2020 (partly to be closer to JJ's Wine, Spirits & Ci**rs, but to also provide a better space for larger events with much better parking), things were difficult from the start, largely due to the pandemic. But we pushed through all of that, expanded our footprint to the space next door (previous occupant wasn't a fan), added pool, darts, dabbled with vid-lot for a while, and a dive bar-like atmosphere. But that never really took hold either. And in the past couple of years, it's been a bit of a struggle.
With that... we have had some great times at this place. Held some great events (graduations, team building experiences, corporate Christmas parties, etc.), have had some great competitive axe throwing tournaments, hosted pool leagues and provided a great experience for a lot of people. We started offering food and catering from JJ's Bar and started offering some fun (malt-based) drink options along with our great beer selections.
So, why am I sharing this? Well, some changes are coming. I am not one to give up on a business and I have a pretty solid group of guys working over there that are committed to figuring out how to make it work better (financially). After our Chief Axe-pert left recently to join the Marine Corp, we have had some great conversations about what we can do different, and what we can do better.
So, stay tuned. Stop in for a beer. We have a great bar rail here to just hang out and enjoy the space. Watch some TV, listen to some tunes. Check it out. Watch the progress.
We will be open to the public for limited hours (Thursday through Saturday) for the remainder of the Summer. But we are open seven days a week for private groups as long as your time is booked well in advance. Visit https://jjsaxes.com for more info. Thanks ~Tom - Feel free to message me here if you have questions.
