Furious at COVID-19? Your ex? This place lets you feel better by smashing stuff.
Have you ever been in a situation that made you so angry you wanted to break something or hit the person that caused that frustration — just to feel better?
Back in December, Little River resident Mandy Lowe was in the middle of an argument with her girlfriend when she abrasively hung up the phone and wanted to smash her windshield. Not wanting to pay for the damage or add to her already trying day, Lowe searched for an outlet where she could exert her aggression in a way that was both safe, legal and satisfying.
When she couldn’t find a place to do that within close range, she had the idea to open a business that would provide others with a means to deal with their stress and frustration through the art of smashing inanimate objects to pieces, or as Lowe calls it, “smash therapy.”
“I needed to hit something and that’s where the idea came from; I was mad at my girlfriend,” Lowe said. “With everything going on right now, nobody has an outlet to safely let go of any aggression, so we want people to come here, break things and let it all out.”
Despite the impact COVID-19 has had on the community, with the help of her friends and family, Aggression Session will open in North Myrtle Beach next week. A soft opening will be held July 24, with the grand opening to follow Aug. 4.
The business will feature eight themed rooms that will allow patrons to safely deal with any pent-up aggression, whether it be throwing paint at a spinning canvas, destroying glass objects, household merchandise, electronics or personal items, or whacking a parked car situated in the back of the building with a golf club.
Some of the items available for shattering include glass bottles, TVs, furniture, a refrigerator, toilet bowls, electronics and more. Patrons have the option to use a golf club, baseball bat, crowbar, hammer or sledge hammer during their session. Each room will also have a bluetooth speaker for customers to utilize while they smash their anger away.
While supplied with a stockroom full of breakable items, Lowe also encourages those to bring personal items — perhaps sentimental items from a former relationship or the Xbox your ex paid more attention to than you — to properly destroy.
“You break it, we clean it,” Lowe said. “This is a way when everybody gets off work to let it all out. It’s easy and simple.”
Each room allows up to a certain amount of people, with participants provided with protective gear to avoid any unnecessary injury. Prices range from $10 to $100 based on what room you’re in, which items you smash, how much you destroy, and the time spent in each room.
Additionally, the business can cater group parties of up to 20 people for $250. The package allows the use of six rooms for an hour. Monthly memberships are also offered for $200.
Due to COVID-19, patrons will be encouraged to wear face masks, with employees sporting them at all times. Items used for smashing will also be disinfected after each use, Lowe said, with the rooms properly sanitized before each use.
Aggression Session is located at 2902 Highway 17 South in North Myrtle Beach. For more information or to book a session, call 843-696-6075 or visit https://www.aggressionsessionnmb.com/.
