NORTH BRUNSWICK – Tyler Nelson of South Plainfield was on Facebook on Oct. 17 when she came across something interesting a friend shared: a new “rage room” had opened in North Brunswick.
Wanting to find out more about it, she secured the last booking for that evening at 10:20 p.m. At 10 p.m., she and her friend Maggie Sampogna jumped in their car and took the 20-minute drive to Break Stuff NJ.
Upon arriving, the two girls suited up in protective clothing, goggles, a face guard and gloves. Entering the 24-foot by 17-foot room, “the first thing I grabbed was a lamp because it was the biggest thing on the table.”
Swinging baseball bats – with the options of mallets, wrecking bars and sledgehammers – Sampogna said, “It felt like relief.”
They crushed glassware, tires, liquor bottles, empty containers of kitty litter, jars and dishes. They also destroyed a fish tank, a dresser and a broken Keurig machine Nelson brought with her.
“I think it’s a healthy way to get rid of your anger instead of turning it toward people,” Nelson said.
On Oct. 22, the two girls returned with their friend AJ Gonzalez of Edison, who was breaking for his first time.
“It was fun,” he said. “If they had it, I took it. … I want to come back. I like destroying things.”
“In a legal, fun and safe way,” Nelson laughed.
Andrew Powers works for the Department of Treasury during the day, and being in public service, he wanted to find a business that was service-based.
“I have angry people. But I’m not a therapist. I thought, maybe people would like to break stuff,” the owner said.
Starting out in October 2018, the North Brunswick resident officially opened Break Stuff in September.
The only stipulations are to not hit the walls, to not break the tables or tubs and to not damage the wet-dry vacuum. Everything else is fair game: throwing bottles against cinder blocks, tying wine bottles to hooks to hit them with bats, putting items on hooks and throwing hammers.
The items are donated, or come from whatever Powers can find.
On the evening of Oct. 22, he brought in a toilet and a glass door for the team to break apart.
“Take it easy, but go crazy,” he said, setting up a surveillance camera on his desk to monitor the actions inside the “demolition therapy center.”
Break Stuff NJ is located at 1150 Newton St., Suite C, North Brunswick, behind the North Brunswick First Aid & Rescue Squad.
The cost is $25 per person per 20-minute block. Up to six people can be in the room at once. Breakers under 16 can participate in a room filled with non-hazardous items.
Items are provided, or attendees can bring their own.
No special attire is needed, other than closed-toe shoes.
Appointments are available seven days a week.
For more information, to schedule a session or to donate items to break, visit fb.com/breakstuffnj or breakstuffnj.com
“Come angry and be ready to have some fun,” Powers said.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].