David Benda
Redding Record Searchlight
Published 11:00 AM EST Dec 21, 2019
Aaron Souza hits the target when describing his new business in Redding.
“Ax throwing is basically … like throwing darts on steroids,” Souza told me Thursday, a day after the city approved a site-development permit for his Timberlords on Bechelli Lane.
Indoor ax-throwing ranges are increasing in popularity as people look for other recreational outlets. There’s even a World Axe Throwing League, which boasts a membership of ax-throwing businesses that Souza said Timberlords will join after it opens.
Oasis Fun Center in Shasta Lake has ax-throwing.
“People are looking for something to do just because they are just tired of the same old, same old,” said Souza, who also owns Extreme Escape Redding, a downtown escape room business. “It’s one of those things that has caught on because it’s really versatile in terms of the demographic it appeals to. It’s just fun, just good fun.”
Timberlords will set up shop in the former Village Cycle on the west side of Bechelli. Souza wants to be open by late January. The range also will feature an escape room that Souza said might not be ready when Timberlords opens.
Souza will have three two-lane ranges, so people can compete against each other in games like tic-tac-toe, hangman and last man standing. The business will have ax-throwing leagues. There also will be a range where customers can practice.
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Before customers start throwing, they will get a rundown on the rules and do’s and don’ts.
“So in that time, the first 15 minutes is when we go over safety guidelines and then actually go through ax-throwing techniques. … We will take the time, so everybody can get a good grasp of how to do it.”
Timberlords will provide the axes and you must be at least 12 years old to throw.
The business also plans to serve beer and has applied for a license with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control department.
“We will monitor people and we will have the first right of refusal,” Souza said.
“If somebody comes in and we can see they have had two or three beers in a half-hour, that obviously will be a pretty red flag for us and that is somebody that we will pay close attention to.”
Souza, 49, moved to Shasta County when he was 17 years old. He also owns Concepts Customs, an automotive business in Anderson.
Souza said his wife, Jessica, also will be involved in the ax-throwing business.
“The first time I heard of ax throwing I thought, I don’t have enough plaid in my closet for that,” he said.
But Souza said once he tried it, he realized you don’t have to be a lumberjack with a beard to enjoy it.
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“Women are really grasping the idea behind it, and to be honest, women are better throwers than men,” he said. “Men have a tendency to muscle the thing and women use finesse.”
Walmart McDonald’s closes
For more than 20 years, the Walmart in Redding boasted a McDonald’s, a crowded, small space off to the left as you entered the store.
Business for McDonald’s there certainly appeared to boom.
So it was surprising to hear it closed about a week before Thanksgiving.
Diane Gross, whose family operated the location, told me that McDonald’s wanted them to remodel the space and they figured it wouldn’t pay off given the business they did there.
“It was busy but a lot of dollar drinks and dollar menu items,” Gross said.
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And with minimum wage in California going to $13 an hour in January and $15 an hour in 2022, Gross said it made it hard to justify the remodeling expense.
“It all adds up, so we are taking our focus to where we feel it needs to be,” said Gross, who added that her employees at the Walmart location were transitioned to her other three restaurants, on Churn Creek Road in the Target center, on Lake Boulevard and on East Cypress Avenue.
Gross has remodeled her other three locations into the McDonald’s Experience the Future design that features, among other things, kiosks where customers can order Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets, fries, Egg McMuffins and other items.
As the economy in Shasta County picks up, Gross said it’s been difficult finding employees.
“It’s a challenge looking for employees and it’s getting harder and harder all the time,” she said. “People say they don’t like using the kiosk because it takes jobs from people, but actually we need more people.”
Crown Camera still open, just a different name
Known as Crown Camera for years, the landmark downtown Redding business hasn’t closed its doors. It’s just operating by a different name, Crown Photo & Video.
Jeff Engell, whose late father, Gary, owned Crown Camera for more than 60 years, told me that people don’t realize they are still operating, though they no longer sell camera equipment and accessories.
Crown Photo & Video is at 1360 Tehama St., just a few steps from the former Crown Camera’s store front on Market Street. That space is now occupied by Floranthropist, a flower and plant store that opened in November.
“We have had people going into the flower shop realizing this is no longer a camera store. Fortunately, they (flower shop) have redirected them to us,” Engell said. “I would say about 30 people have done that. It’s crazy.”
Gary Engell died of a heart attack in early November, just over two months after closing the retail portion of his business. He was 85.
“It came as a massive shock to all of us,” Engell said. “I think maybe the closure of the business, the pressure all of that, but we assured him he could continue keeping his office here.”
Crown Photo & Video is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It also will be open the Saturday before Christmas. Call 243-8333 for more information.
‘Buzz’-off
‘The Buzz’ will be on vacation next week.
My column will return the weekend of Jan. 4.
Have a happy holiday and a great New Year. I will see you in 2020.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
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