BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Unofficial Logging Co., a local axe-throwing bar and event venue in Bend, Oregon, has announced it will permanently close on July 2, citing ongoing economic difficulties and a significant drop in sales.
In a heartfelt message shared on the company’s Facebook page on Monday, the business outlined the challenges that led to the decision, describing the closure as “heartbreaking.”
“When we opened our doors in 2019, we had a simple dream: to create a place where people could gather, laugh, and connect,” the post reads. “Just a few months later, that dream collided with the pandemic.”
Since then, the business has faced continuous obstacles: the pandemic shutdown, a lumber supply crisis, staffing shortages, inflation, and tariffs. In 2025, the latest challenge has been widespread economic uncertainty and reduced consumer spending.
Unofficial Logging Co. reports a 40% decline in sales compared to the previous year, which they believe reflects broader economic trends.
“We’re probably the canary in the coal mine,” the post continues. “What’s happening to us may be a sign of what’s ahead for many others in Central Oregon and beyond.”
The business operated not only as a bar but also as a community hub for concerts, weddings, fundraisers, baby showers, and other events across Central Oregon, including La Pine, Prineville, and Redmond.
According to the company, it has contributed over $5 million to the local economy since its founding six years ago.
Although saddened by the closure, the team expressed pride in what they built.
“Our real impact is harder to measure. It’s the way people felt when they walked through our doors. It’s the joy, the laughter, the sense of safety, the unforgettable memories,” the post concluded. “So long, and thanks for all the fish.”
— news from KTVZ
— News Original —
Unofficial Logging Co. in Bend Announces Closure Amid Economic Pressures
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Unofficial Logging Co., a local axe-throwing bar and event space in Bend, has announced it will likely close its doors for good on July 2, citing ongoing economic struggles and a sharp decline in sales.
In a heartfelt message posted to the company’s Facebook page on Monday, the business shared the challenges that have led to the decision, calling the closure “heartbreaking.”
“When we opened our doors in 2019, we had a simple dream: to create a place where people could gather, laugh, and connect,” the post reads. “Just a few months later, that dream collided with the pandemic.”
Since then, the business says it has faced nearly constant hurdles: the COVID-19 shutdown, a lumber supply crisis, staffing shortages, inflation, and tariffs. In 2025, they said, the latest blow has been the broad economic uncertainty and tightened consumer budgets.
Unofficial Logging Co. reports a 40% drop in sales compared to last year, a decline they believe reflects larger trends.
“We’re probably the canary in the coal mine,” the post continues. “What’s happening to us may be a sign of what’s ahead for many others in Central Oregon and beyond.”
The business operated not just as a bar, but as a gathering place for concerts, weddings, fundraisers, baby showers, and other community events across Central Oregon, including in La Pine, Prineville, and Redmond.
According to the company, it has contributed over $5 million to the local economy since its founding six years ago.
Though saddened by the closure, the team expressed pride in what they built.
“Our real impact is harder to measure. It’s the way people felt when they walked through our doors. It’s the joy, the laughter, the sense of safety, the unforgettable memories,” the post concluded. “So long, and thanks for all the fish.”
Here is their official Facebook post:
Dear friends,
It breaks our hearts to share that Unofficial Logging Co. will likely be closing, with our last day set for July 2nd.
When we opened our doors in 2019, we had a simple dream: to create a place where people could gather, laugh, and connect. Just a few months later, that dream collided with the pandemic. We had to shut down almost immediately. What followed was a series of challenges that never seemed to stop.
After COVID came the lumber crisis, with prices tripling overnight. Then we faced staffing shortages that never really let up. Then inflation. Then tariffs. And now, in 2025, economic uncertainty is the new normal. People are tightening their budgets.
We’ve done everything we could to stay afloat, but this year our sales are down 40% from the year before. That isn’t a marketing issue or a temporary slump. It’s a signal that something deeper is happening. Axe throwing is fun, but when compared to food, rent, health care, or insurance, it’s a luxury. And luxuries just don’t survive in economies like this one.
We’re probably the canary in the coal mine. We hope we’re wrong, but we’re afraid we’re not. What’s happening to us may be a sign of what’s ahead for many others in Central Oregon and beyond.
Despite all of this, we are incredibly proud of what we built. Our bar has been more than just a place to throw axes. It’s been a home for concerts, fundraisers, first dates, last hurrahs, and everything in between. We’ve hosted weddings in La Pine, baby showers in Prineville, festivals in Redmond, and community gatherings right here in Bend. We’ve been lucky to meet and connect with hundreds of thousands of you.
We know people often talk about economic impact in numbers, and we’re proud to have contributed more than $5 million dollars into the local economy over the last 6 years. But our real impact is harder to measure. It’s the way people felt when they walked through our doors. It’s the joy, the laughter, the sense of safety, the unforgettable memories.
Thank you, Bend. Thank you, Deschutes County. Thank you, Central Oregon. For the time, the support, the love, and the trust.
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
–The crew at Unofficial Logging Co.