Mo Tsimouris Has an Axe to Throw
Bellingham’s nightlife just got more exciting.
Mo is building Bellingham’s new entertainment district.
Would you go axe-throwing on a first date?
Mo Tsimouris wants you to give it a try. “I highly recommend it as a first date activity. It beats just grabbing a drink—there’s nothing wrong with that—but axe-throwing is interactive, and you get to know each other. You can laugh at each other, give each other pointers, and try and compete a bit.”
As the owner of Bellingham Bar and Grill, known locally as BBG, and the adjacent Bellingham Axe, Mo aims to offer a one-stop shop for a night out downtown. That includes BBG’s affordable well drinks, happy hour bites, steak and seafood entrees, pool, and shuffleboard. Now, he can add axe throwing to that list.
Bellingham Axe, which opened in 2019 under different ownership, is underground, literally. The basement lounge is bedecked with graffiti art by local muralist Shawn Cass. Inside are 16 lanes, with targets and interactive games that project onto the wall, and sensors that keep score for you. Mo has seen all age groups, from kids to seniors, at Bellingham Axe, and believes it’s something for people of all skill levels. If it sounds intimidating, rest assured the employees are always monitoring for safety and are happy to offer demos and tips before you throw.
Carrying on tradition
Mo grew up in the nightlife and restaurant business. He bought half of Bellingham Bar and Grill from his father, who’s still a partner, when it was the eponymous Downtown Johnny’s nightclub. “I was always helping out a couple hours after school, and I always felt a pull towards the business. I knew that this is what I wanted to do from a very young age. Being Greek, a lot of Greeks are entrepreneurs or restaurateurs. It was kind of a chosen path, and I fit into it well,” he says.
Longtime locals will remember the charmingly divey Downtown Johnny’s as a nightlife staple. Fortunately, BBG provides a similar social outlet. Any night of the week you can witness the spectacle of crowds and packed pool tables, especially on Wednesdays when double well drinks are just $2.
BBG operates on a larger scale than its predecessor. Mo grew the team from six to 30 employees, many of whom have been with the business for over a decade. “That’s the number one thing I like to brag about. I’m very proud of the fact Jim and Matt both have been here for almost 12 years. I have other employees who have been here for 7, 8, and 9 years, and we don’t have a lot of turnover. I love them, and they love working here. It’s just a great symbiotic relationship.”
When Mo rebranded the space, he was determined to provide an approachable, welcoming environment. That mentality enabled BBG to grow into what it is today.
Bellingham must be the place
Mo has lived in Bellingham his whole life. He’s witnessed the population grow from 30,000 to 100,000, and a slew of new businesses crop up, like the plethora of cocktail bars (his favorite is Matthew’s Honest Cocktails), breweries, and taprooms (he likes Flatstick Pub).
But it’s not all about nightlife. The number one reason that Mo loves Whatcom County?
“It’s home,” he says. “I really like the diversity of activities you can do. We have mountains for skiing, we have oceans, lakes, trails. When the weather’s nice, I don’t think there’s anywhere better you can be.”
Next time you’re looking for something to do in Bellingham, join Mo for a night out at Bellingham Axe or Bellingham Bar & Grill.
