A smashing, bashing, trashing good time

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This article was published 06/09/2024 (400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Manitoba entrepreneurs hope their new venture will be a smashing success.

On Friday, Tyree Gordon and Becky Nielsen opened Unleashed Rage Rooms in Niverville. The business allows patrons to express their pent-up emotions by picking up a baseball bat or golf club and smashing household objects to smithereens.

Gordon and Nielsen were inspired after watching rage room videos on TikTok.

“The goal itself is to provide therapy,” said Gordon, 30. “People get to release their emotions and leave feeling rejuvenated, but they’ll also work up a sweat.”

Located at 61 Main St., the 2,600-square-foot facility features three rooms.

The “Jason Room” features a prominent graffiti rendering of Friday the 13th movie series villain Jason Voorhees; the “Here’s Johnny” room includes a painting of the iconic door-smashing scene from The Shining; and the “Red Room” is decorated in vermilion.

The soundproof spaces are outfitted with plates, bottles, mugs, computers, plastic barrels, tires and plywood boards that patrons can Hulk out on to their hearts’ content. Customers are allowed to bring their own items to smash and to smash with, subject to staff approval.

Patrons must sign a waiver and wear pants, long-sleeve shirts and closed-toe shoes. They must also don protective gear provided by Unleashed.

The business offers packages for anywhere from one to 10 people, starting at $20 for 15 minutes. Larger parties can book the rooms for 30 minutes at a time. It might offer a walk-in option in the future, but for now, customers must book in advance at unleashedragerooms.com.

“Within five minutes, you feel great mentally, physically and emotionally,” Gordon said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

He had first-hand experience prior to opening Unleashed. Gordon’s father and best friend both died in the last three years and he travelled to a rage room in Niagara Falls, Ont., as part of his grieving process.

He found breaking things beneficial, but thought the aesthetics were lacking. The rooms in Unleashed feature extensive graffiti artwork by Gordon’s brother; Gordon and Nielsen want their business to stand out.

“We wanted to put our little twist on there so when you look at other rage rooms on TikTok, our rooms are more captivating compared to them,” Gordon said.

Gordon and Nielsen live in Winnipeg, but chose to open the business in Niverville, located 35 kilometres south of the Manitoba capital, after striking up a friendship with Troy Waldner, who owns the building that houses Unleashed.

“It’s an up-and-coming town, the population is growing, it’s not a huge commute — that’s why we thought it would be the perfect location,” said Nielsen, 38.

Niverville is one of the fastest growing towns in the country, according to Statistics Canada. It’s more than tripled its population in 30 years, to almost 6,000 people in 2021.

The town’s council is happy to welcome Unleashed to the community, said Mayor Myron Dyck, who was introduced to Gordon and Nielsen when council reviewed their conditional use application in June.

“It’s just an exciting, unique kind of business,” Dyck said. “From the comments I’ve seen from people in the community, they’re really looking forward to checking it out.”

While CJ’s Hangout in Ste. Anne offers rage rooms and axe-throwing, Unleashed is currently the only business in Manitoba dedicated solely to rage rooms.

Smash Corp. opened in Winnipeg in November 2018, but shut down when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the province. Kickin’ Axe Throwing in Brandon operated what it called a “wreck room” for about one year, but closed it in February 2023 because it wasn’t economically viable.

“Since shutting it down, I’ve had more inquiries than when (it) was operational, but it’s just not enough for me to reopen it,” said Kickin’ Axe owner Darcy Low.

Rage rooms may be relatively new to the keystone province, but there are hundreds of them around the world. The idea is believed to have originated around 2008 in Japan.

Experts, however, differ on whether or not there are actual therapeutic benefits.

There are two different ways people often use the word therapy, according to Harold Wallbridge, director of the Psychological Service Centre at the University of Manitoba and registrar at the Psychological Association of Manitoba.

One definition is used to refer to a treatment that meets the threshold of scientific inquiry. The other is used to refer to an activity that is relaxing, fun or entertaining.

“If someone were to believe for themselves that (rage rooms) had therapeutic benefits, such that they didn’t need to deal with their issues in a more scientifically validated way, that would be problematic,” Wallbridge said.

He added rage rooms are potentially valuable because of the entertainment and enjoyment they can provide.

Gordon and Nielsen said they intend to add a fourth room at some point and hope to open a Winnipeg location, if the business is successful.

“We’re excited,” Gordon said. “We’re in it for the long haul.”

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca