Bringing a Michigan downtown back to life, one axe and arcade game at a time
Christina and Chris Herr have turned axe-throwing and old-fashioned arcade fun into the type of community gathering spot Michigan downtowns were once known for.
When Chris Herr gathered with several other groomsmen for some axe-throwing before his best friend’s wedding, he did not expect to have the first seeds of his own future business planted, but that’s exactly what happened. “He was eager to tell me how much fun it was, what a great experience they had, and how it was something that would appeal to many age groups,” Herr’s wife, Christina, remembers.
That initial fun experience led the couple to dream up what would become Axecadia in their hometown of Lapeer, Michigan —a family-friendly entertainment venue offering an entire lower-level arcade, axe-throwing, and a space for community gatherings. “That’s how the puzzle pieces all started to fit together,” Christina says.
Today, the Herrs have grown Axecadia into a town staple and a fixture in downtown Lapeer, standing as a testament to what small-town Michigan downtowns once represented: community, gathering, and fun in a family-friendly atmosphere. (Plus axe-throwing, because let’s face it, that’s just plain cool.)
From veteran to visionary
After Chris had served 15 years in the military (8 years as an active-duty Marine and 7 years involved in a company that worked on training Special Forces units), a role that involved a lot of travel and demands on both him and his family’s time and energy, the Herrs were looking for something a little different.
“We all wanted more time as a family, and he was looking for a way to serve our local community and to put his business degree to good use,” Christina explains. “But what that would look like, we were not sure.”
Coincidentally, around the same time as Chris’s retirement from the military, the veteran had become involved in buying old arcade machines and restoring them as a hobby. Add in his experience with axe-throwing for his friend’s wedding, and you have the origin story of one of Michigan’s downtown hotspots.
Launching the business was no small feat either, but the former Marine was up for the challenge: Chris took on the task of renovating a 4,000-square-foot historic downtown building, doing much of the work himself, along with a small crew of family and friends. The couple was focused on establishing their business in the historic downtown Lapeer area because they had witnessed the revitalization efforts in their hometown.
She admits that owning a business, especially a brick-and-mortar one, can be a challenge, but adds that her husband has never shied away from any hard task. “He is thankful for the opportunity to serve his local community after spending so many years serving at the national level in the military sector,” Christina described.
As a downtown business owner, Chris has also joined the Downtown Development Authority Board, which works to enact positive change in the downtown.
“We wanted to be a part of that,” Christina says. “We both grew up here, and we wanted to pour back into the community that was a formative part of our experiences.”
A historic haven
Fortunately, the Herrs have accomplished exactly what they set out to do: joining a larger-scale statewide effort to revitalize Michigan’s downtowns with community and connection. They opened Axecadia in 2023, welcoming Lapeer to visit the family entertainment center that features:
- 5 custom-built axe-throwing lanes
- Over 30 pinball and retro arcade machines
- Concession-style snacks
- Non-alcoholic beverage options
- A complimentary board games library
- Weekly all-ages board gaming night
- Weekly pinball tournament (every Tuesday)
- Themed events, like Ladies’ Lego night, football watch parties, New Year’s Eve bash, Halloween party, and an Easter Egg Hunt in the arcade (“That was one of my personal favorites!” gushes Christina.)
- Summer and day camps
My family and I had the pleasure of visiting Axecadia over the summer—I was looking for a special activity to do for my son’s 13th birthday and reached out to Christina. She helped me book a private party for my son at a very reasonable rate, and the venue even allows you to bring in your own commercially-prepared food and cake.
A private event includes an axe-throwing lesson and full access to the entire building, including the entire lower-level arcade. The arcade was my kids’ favorite part, and they were able to play old-school games we all recognized, like Dance-Dance Revolution and even an original Atari tennis. (You will have to pay extra for the arcade tokens, however, outside of what’s included in the party package.)
The majority of our party had never been axe-throwing, and I admit I was terrified at the prospect, but Christina walked us through everything and made the entire experience enjoyable and comfortable. She even made me feel less alone, explaining that many people initially (and mistakenly!) believe that axe-throwing is super dangerous or difficult to learn.
“With proper coaching, it doesn’t have to be either of those things,” she notes. “We go through a safety brief for each and every group to make sure everyone is safe, and we have a coaching system that pretty clearly outlines the technique. We have had 10-year-olds all the way up to 88-year-olds become confident throwers in just one session!”
I am happy to report that she was 100% correct, and I wasn’t half-bad at the axe-throwing after all, if I do say so myself. But one pro tip: make sure you wear closed-toe shoes only if you will be participating in axe throwing, or you might just find yourself having to borrow the Herrs’ pair of oversized, authentic wooden clogs to adhere to the safety rules. (Yes, my daughter did the clog walk of shame.)
Cultivating community
Beyond the pure fun of a family entertainment venue like Axecadia, what the Herrs have built is community.
“There were so many steps along the way and honestly, it would have been easier at many points to just say, ‘Never mind,'” Christina concedes. ” But we built it, and now thousands of people have built memories here. From birthdays, first dates, anniversaries, work parties, wedding rehearsal dinners, to class reunions—I’m proud we had a part in any of those events.”
The husband-and-wife team hopes to continue growing their business through even more community involvement and events. They say that seeing Axecadia become a beloved staple of their Michigan hometown is their favorite part of opening a downtown business.
“We love being a place where people come to connect and create positive memories,” Christina says. “We’ve got pinball tournament regulars and board gamers who have become good friends with us and with each other; we’ve had some regulars become like family, and we’ve seen groups of friends make Axecadia one of their hangout spaces, and that’s so fun to see.”
“It’s humbling and rewarding to see other people care about this place and want to come again and again,” she adds.
To experience the fun that is Axecadia—or try your hand at Christina’s preferred arcade games of Skee-Ball and Tetris, or Chris’s favorite classic game of Robotron— be sure to give them a visit. While closed on Mondays and Wednesdays for private events, Axecadia is open the rest of the week at varying hours. You can also book a 2-to 12-person axe-throwing experience and sign your waiver online, so you’re ready to go and throw!
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