A New Strategy for Attracting Big City Millennials: Build Ax-Throwing Bars

Two New Jersey suburbs of New York City are taking an interesting approach to attracting New York City Millennials looking for refuge from the high cost of rent in the Big Apple.

1 minute read

December 18, 2019, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Dangerous Fun

Scott Biales DitchTheMap / Shutterstock

Prashant Gopal and Vildana Hajric report: "A literal arms race is heating up between two suburbs north of Manhattan. Ax-throwing bars are in the works at New Rochelle and Yonkers, both of which see the edgy pubs as a means to attract millennials away from New York City."

New Rochelle and Yonkers are the largest cities in Westchester County, according to the article, and located a 30-minute ride from Manhattan. Rents, however, are a fraction fot he cost in the two suburbs compared to most of New York City, so they are trying to attract newcomers by "building apartment towers outfitted with luxury amenities such as dog-washing stations and rooftop fire pits," according to the article.

The question that this approach to economic development raises, according to the article, is whether the influx will raise prices in the suburbs, and ruin the feature that attracted newcomers in the first place.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 in Bloomberg BusinessWeek

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

1 hour ago - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Blue train on coastal rail in Southern California.

SoCal Leaders Debate Moving Coastal Rail Line

Train tracks running along the Pacific Ocean are in danger from sea level rise, but residents are divided on how to fix the problem.

March 7 - The New York Times

Woman and two children sit on bench at public transit stop waiting for tram with stroller next to them.

Are Mobility Hubs Child-Friendly?

‘Mobility hubs’ aim to make urban travel easier by connecting travel modes. Adding more services could make them more accessible and useful to women and families.

March 7 - Streetsblog USA