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Bloomington-Normal’s Newest Therapy: ‘Wreck-Reational’ Stress Relief

Participants are wearing their protective gear and ready for their smashing session.
Smash Club Bloomington's Facebook
Participants are wearing their protective gear and ready for their smashing session.

David and Sandy Kagel are bringing something new to the table for stress release in Bloomington-Normal. They brought a bottle, and it’s for you to smash. 

Smash Club Bloomington, at 1102 S. Main St., is the first “rage room” to open up in central Illinois. The club is set to open on Saturday, Aug. 10, and it offers groups and individuals the opportunity to safely break laptops, TVs, lamps, bottles, and much more. 

Participants are given protective, lightweight clothing, helmets, facemasks, and gloves. They’re even allowed to decide their weapon of choice between baseball bats, crow bars, and metal pipes. 

Rage rooms hold a special place in the Kagels’ hearts; they attended one in Las Vegas for their wedding. 

“When I did that, after I went in there, I decided that's really what I want to do. It was something that I thought would go over very well in this town. It’s cutting edge, new, and exciting,” says David Kagel. 

But don’t let the rage room title fool you. Kagel said the club is meant more for stress relief rather than rage control, and this activity allows people to have some fun in a new setting. 

“People probably always wanted to break something, but they just couldn't do it. This just gives people an outlet to release some stress, have fun, and get some exercise.”

Kagel hopes to attract groups for anniversaries, bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, team building, and the newly introduced divorce parties.

An individual, 15-minute session costs $40, two people for $60, three people for $80 and four people for $100. Those interested in booking an appointment can call 309-533-6445.

Smash Club Bloomington is now taking appointments so get ready to smash your cares away.

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Amina Jinadu is a social media and online writing intern at WGLT and a student at Illinois State University's School of Communication. She began working at WGLT in summer 2019.