NewKensingtonaxethrowingspotLasHachaswillclosethisweekend,butthevenue’sfuturecouldstillincludetargetsandblades.
The storefront owners, Brian Mangone and Brian Heidenreich, along with building owner Olde Towne Overhaul are looking for a new tenant who wants to keep it an entertainment destination.
“It’s a turnkey business,” Mangone said.
The business announced last week that it will close on Saturday, April 4 and invited people to use any outstanding gift cards they might have.
New owners wishing to carry the axing legacy would get existing customer lists, point-of-sale information and operations training, said Olde Towne Overhaul Operations Manager Michelle Thom.
“Somebody could come in and purchase the assets,” Thom said. “Or, it could be somebody that’s coming in and doing something different. Maybe there’s a pinball operation that could go in there, or something else.”
Mangone said he and Heidenreich would be staying on to help train new owners and that some of the existing staff may be willing to stay on.
Las Hachas was opened in 2021 by brothers Brian and Zach Heidenreich and their brother-in-law, Mangone, who at that time told TribLive they were inspired to open the Fifth Avenue business after visiting similar places in Pittsburgh.
About a year ago, Zach stepped away from ownership because he had his first child, Mangone said.
While it was a successful side project for the trio, Mangone said the hustle of day jobs and growing families spurred their decision to close.
“We’ve had five good years,” Mangone said. “… (but) it was a different time in our lives.”
He said he was proud of the venue’s role in the community, noting that it often held high school banquets and is affiliated with the World Axe Throwing League.
“We got in right when all the revitalization of downtown New Kensington was happening,” Mangone said. “We all got to have the experience of running a successful business, helping a community that we all grew up in, and it was a good feeling to know that.”
He said there are a few prospective owners being reviewed, but it’s still in the early stages of finding someone.
“We did reach out to some other venues, actual venues. We reached out to some other folks that we knew were passionate about axe throwing,” he said.
Entertainment in New Kensington’s downtown is “crucial” for the business district, Thom said.
She said Olde Towne is “open to negotiating” a discounted lease rate for the space — something the developer has made part of its business revitalization model.
“A lot of money and time has been spent building the space out,” Thom said. “It would be very cost effective for somebody to come in without starting fresh in a business like this. They don’t have to keep the name as it is. They could come in with their own brand.”