Zahr Archery: aiming for unique experiences

Archery and dodgeball might sound like they don’t go together, but at Zahr Archery, the two blend to create a unique family-friendly activity.

When brothers Hussein and Ahmad Soueidan came to New Mexico, they said there wasn’t enough unique entertainment in the city. There’s lots of outdoor activities like hiking and fishing, but not much to do for people who aren’t interested in nature-based activities.

The brothers did notice, however, several schools and churches offered archery.

“Why not bring nostalgia back to people our age and have people (act like they are) still teenagers, ” Hussein said.

The brothers decided combining archery and dodgeball would be a fun way to incorporate some competition and family-friendly fun, and Zahr Archery was born.

To start dodging high speed arrows, customers start by booking a session. Sessions are 90 minutes, with the first half hour dedicated to going over the basics.

“We do a full archery training so even if you have never touched a bow in your life before, it’s great because we will teach you how to play,” Ahmad said.

Foam tipped arrows and protective head and face gear are supplied to keep guests safe.

After safety instructions and tutorials have been given, participants are able to shoot to their hearts desire. The two brothers created nine different games, each lasting about five to seven minutes long, to test players skills and to keep them on their toes during their session. The most popular game is a variation of capture the flag for groups of four to six.

“On top of having the fun, you get to let out all the stress. There’s some therapy in shooting your friends and family with arrows,” Ahmed said. “You will walk out with a new skill because you actually know how to shoot archery now.”

Currently, the store is experimenting incorporating Nerf guns into the gameplay. The brothers said Nerf guns will help include people who are less mobile and don’t have the ability to chase after their arrows.

“We don’t want anybody excluded from having this since it is the only one of its kind in all of Albuquerque. I would say the only close thing to us would potentially be paintball,” Hussein said.

The brothers are hoping Nerf guns could also open the business up to a younger audience.

“Our age cutoff is about 8 or 9,” Ahmad said. “The reason for that is ... kids younger than the age of eight just struggle between having to, one, learn archery and at the same time follow the rules. We are realizing that if they have a Nerf gun on them instead, it will make their lives a lot easier.”

The archery store opened in February of 2023, but the brothers said business has just recently began to pick up, though it’s still not quite as much as they had hoped for.

“Sometimes we go a whole weekend without even a single booking. Those are a little crushing,” Ahmad said. “We understand so that it is a very new concept, and trying to sell people something that they’ve never heard of is going to take some time.”

Hussein said the brothers will also bring their equipment to private parties.

“We want to make everything more fun,” he said.