This non-descript west-end warehouse has recently been colonized by a motley crew of businesses, mostly catering to adrenaline junkies.
From the outside, 213 Sterling Rd. looks like any other warehouse—squat, red-brick, non-descript. But with spaces ranging from 900 to 12,000 square feet, you won’t find any ordinary storage units here. Home to the Moloney Electric Company (an electrical transformer manufacturer) from 1920 to 2008, the building has more recently been colonized by a motley crew of businesses, mostly catering to adrenaline junkies.
In one unit is the Backyard Axe Throwing League. Originally started in founder Matt Wilson’s backyard (hence the name), it moved in to 213 Sterling last winter. With 128 official members, B.A.T.L. runs league nights four times weekly, and hosts private events Thursday through Sunday, when Wilson and his staff coach beginners on how to properly throw an axe. While not licensed to serve alcohol, throwers can BYOB as long as they remain on their best behaviour, because, well, it’s an axe-throwing league.
Down the hall at the Just 4 Fun Sporting Club, Addy Mahadeo also encourages physical exercise, but with fewer weapons. Here, space equivalent to two high school gym courts can be rented out by the hour, seven days, a week for basketball, soccer, dodgeball, and floor hockey. There are scheduled drop-in times as well, and Mahadeo rents the facility out for parties.
Lastly, the Centre of Gravity is one of two circus-training studios in the building. Since last fall, Jen Georgopolous has been teaching Krav Maga martial arts, Vaudeville theatre, and flexibility training to clients young and old. With 30-foot ceilings to work with, there is plenty of room for aerial acrobatics.
The building has also been used as a venue for arts and fashion shows, parties, and galleries, as well as office space for a variety of creative enterprises.
Any other unusual outfits looking at setting up will have to wait a bit—213 Sterling is fully leased.
