ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — Since moving to Zephyrhills in 2003, Christopher Murphy always felt there was something missing from the small town.
“This area of Tampa Bay has been neglected, as far as entertainment goes,” he said. “The only thing we have in Pasco County on this side are movie theaters, bars or bowling alleys.”
Murphy decided he wanted to help fill the void. In April 2018, he opened Molly’s Hatchet, an indoor axe-throwing venue in downtown Zephyrhills.
“It brings people out of the house and gives them something new and exciting to do,” Murphy explained.
Several axe-throwing spots found their target audience throughout the Tampa Bay area.
In 2018, Forbes highlighted axe throwing as a growing trend throughout the United States. However, Murphy said calling the sport "a trend" implies it will eventually disappear.
“This is a legitimate sport that is coming into its own age,” he said.
Axe-throwing aficionados around the world are trying their best to legitimize the sport. In 2016, the National Axe Throwing Federation was created. A year later, the World Axe Throwing League was formed. By 2018, ESPN3 stepped into the game and hosted the World Axe Throwing Championship.
Although axe throwing is gaining traction throughout the United States, a tally of industry revenues hasn’t made it to the books quite yet. Yahoo! Finance reported that Stumpy’s Hatchet House, an axe-throwing company based in Eatontown, N.J., generated more than $1 million in sales in 2016.
As for Molly’s Hatchet. Murphy is hoping to be around for the long haul. In the following video, Murphy shares why he chose to become an entrepreneur in Tampa Bay.
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