An Ohio-based ax-throwing and sports bar concept abruptly closed all five of its locations late last month. Dueling Axes shut down four venues in Columbus, Cincinnati, Grove City, and Albany, Ohio, and one in Las Vegas on July 31. In an email to Nation’s Restaurant News, co-founder Jess Helmich said the closures were caused by, “circumstances outside our control” but did not elaborate. Entrepreneurs Helmich and Paul Sherry founded Dueling Axes in 2018 in Columbus. Customers could throw axes at wooden targets in fully enclosed lanes while also enjoying food and drinks from a full bar.