By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Axe Factor opened up in St. Joseph in 2019, and now the owners are expanding the business to open Illuminate Entertainment, which will feature fun new entertainment options.
Co-owner of Axe Factor and Illuminate Entertainment Matt Wieners says he and his business partner were preparing to originally open this new entertainment venue in Maryville.
But, Wieners says, when plans fell through and a space opened up in the upstairs area of Axe Factor, new plans became evident.
"And so, we were like well, what if we did our entertainment stuff upstairs in the same building, it would be perfect," Wieners tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, we kind of threw it at the wall to see if it stuck, and it did, and now we've got the black light minigolf, and the virtual reality, and the axe throwing those are the three big pillars we wanted to set as a foundation."
Wieners says with very few places in St. Joseph for teenagers to hang out, came the inspiration for opening Axe Factor.
But Wieners says now, with the likes of Joetown Enterprises and B &J Skate Rink, there is no such thing as having to many options.
"We're all separate venues, but we all bring something a little bit different, and I think that's what's great," Wieners says. "I mean you never hear Branson complaining about having to many entertainment options for guests and stuff, so why not have it here in St. Joe."
Wieners says people he's talked to love having an entertainment venue like this to bring people downtown.
"I think a lot of people enjoy it, most business owners I've talked to love that we're down here, they're crazy about the idea that we're bringing in more entertainment to get people down here," Wieners says.
And Wieners says he never stops seeing familiar faces coming in.
"We keep having people come back, we have repeat customers all the time saying they love that we're down here, they love that we're non-alcoholic, we're a family type of place and everything, so I think people really enjoy it," Wieners proudly says.
Illuminate Entertainment is opening a blacklight mini golf course and a virtual reality gaming area today. Arcade games, a rage room, and an arena for things such as dodgeball are set to open in the future.
You can find more information on Illuminate Entertainment HERE and Axe Factor HERE.
