Three new businesses opened in Granby this month, each with an intriguing story. Columbine Massage is owned and operated by Jo Pfaff, who is legally blind, and both Troublesome Tomahawks and High Mountain Firearms are owned by Seth Stern, Pfaff’s partner. The three businesses also share a building, and are located in Pinecone Plaza at 200 W. Agate Ave., on U.S. Highway 40 across from BigHorn Bagels.

Pfaff has a ‘particular affinity’ for massage

Pfaff knows massage therapy is a great occupation for her.

Especially in Granby.

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“I like the small-town ambience of Granby,” she said, adding that she moved here from a rural area, near Flagler, in eastern Colorado.

“It just feels right to be here in this community,” she says.

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Although she attended massage school four years ago and has practiced her craft for several years, she feels she has a particular affinity for massage work due to a disability she has. She is legally blind.

Born with extreme cataracts and then severe glaucoma, her vision is now very challenged. She feels her vision helps with her chosen field.

“I know I have heightened sensibility in my hands and fingers as a way to compensate for my vision loss,” she says. “This allows me to put my disability to its optimal use.”

She says her massage work is more therapeutic in nature because of her acute senses.

She operates out of her new space behind Troublesome Tomahawks in the Pine Cone Plaza, Unit D2, near Java Lava. She is a partner with Seth Stern in the Troublesome Tomahawks enterprise.

Troublesome Tomahawks, High Mountain Firearms focus on fun and training

A new entertainment option, combined with a new firearms store and training center, has opened its doors in Granby.

Troublesome Tomahawks and High Mountain Firearms are officially open for business in the Pine Cone Plaza. A grand opening celebration for the new enterprise is set for the evening of Oct. 28, just in time for the town’s Trick or Treat Main Street event.

Stern and Pfaff had a soft opening at the business two weeks ago and are hoping to soon be serving beer and wine if their liquor application is approved.

Why a tomahawk- and knife-throwing enterprise?

He and Pfaff felt there was a gap in the local market for things to do. It was that simple

“There’s really nothing for people to do here at night,” Stern said. “When it’s after skiing in the winter and after the sun goes down in summer, it’s pretty darn quiet. We felt this business could provide a diversion.”

Stern, who was born and raised in Granby, where he also went to high school, has been conducting conceal carry classes in the Grand County area for six years from his base in the Northern Front Range. He had a 10-year career in the U.S. Air Force before attending college in Fort Collins.

He felt that now was the time for him to come back to Granby, where he enjoys the small-town feel and the opportunity to be in business.

He noted that with the closure of the bowling alley in Grand Lake, lively indoor activity options dwindled. And then there was the closure of the Budget Tackle firearms story. With that closure, Stern decided there was an opening in the market.

“They are popping up all over the state and region,” Stern said. “And the more we looked into it the more we discovered that it was growing in popularity and growing as an activity.”

How does it work, this tomahawk or axe-throwing?

“I had one customer describe it as darts for men,” Stern said with a laugh. “Women are also really good at tomahawk throwing too,” he added.

Ax throwers line up 12 feet from a special cottonwood-backed wall where a bullseye has been painted. Points are accrued based on how close to the bullseye the throw has landed. There’s even a bonus spot at the top of the target for extra points.

There are three lanes for throwing and each lane can accommodate up to 12 people. Throwing axes are offered on site and tomahawks or axes can also be purchased.

“It’s really fun,” Stern said. “People get to throwing just for the fun of it and then, before you know it, they’re getting competitive and accurate.”

Stern says that in a few months they’ll be testing the market in the venue to see if there’s an opportunity to start league play. They also plan to make their facility available for special events, birthday parties and corporate gatherings.

Firearms

Stern said he felt there was also a need for a federally licensed firearms store in the area, especially after the closure of Budget Tackle.

“We’re doing retail firearms sales,” he said. “Our displays are going up soon. We are also licensed for suppressors and short barrels.”

He will also be building armalite rifles soon.

Stern has been conducting concealed carry firearms classes in the county for six years and from that educational platform he can now offer, in his facility, a dedicated classroom for dry-fire handling classes.

With a federal firearms license, Stern can also receive and ship firearms.

“We’re here to make sure you get the equipment and service people need for hunting or recreational shooting, as well as training,” he said.