VIRGINIA BEACH — Aaron Pope was just looking for off-season work for his landscaping crew when they started cleaning out homes in foreclosure. Before pitching items into the trash, Pope and his team are required to demolish them to save space. After destroying an old, non-operational refridgerator with a sledgehammer, Pope had a realization.
“It was gratifying to destroy that fridge” Pope said.
After that day, Pope started seeing ads about a “rage room” in Texas where people can destroy stuff for fun, and decided it was an idea he could bring to Virginia Beach. Aaron and his wife, Sarah, both Virginia Beach natives and owners of Ebbing Tides SUP Shop on Shore Drive and ALC Grounds Management, had an unused empty spare room attached to their store. Now that space serves as Virginia Beach’s own Destruction Room.
“I kept talking about doing it, and then one day I grabbed plywood, dedicated some sweat and hard work, and now we are booking the room every other day, with multiple drop-ins on the weekend,” Pope said.
The space, located at 4425 Shore Dr., is big enough to hold four people. Customers can demolish items Pope has found during trash day around the city, had donated or purchased from locals, or brought to him by College Hunks Hauling Junk when they have non-operational items from their junk removal in the area.
Customers come to the Destruction Room to let loose and to release some form of stress.
“Breaking stuff is considered taboo, and people enjoy doing something that they’ve never really been allowed to do in a safe environment,” Pope said.
Though Pope specified that the room is for entertainment purposes, the relief felt by customers is apparent. With the American Psychological Association reporting that nearly half of Americans feel their stress level has increased over the last five years, leading to relationship, work, and health problems, people are searching for healthy alternatives for managing their stress.
The destructors are getting a workout in the room, and the APA considers exercise as one of the top stress-relieving activities, as well as acknowledging what is causing the stress.
“We offer a holistic, non-pharmacological way to relieve stress,” Pope said. “I have the destructors pick items they want to break. Then I ask them to write down what they want to let go and attach it to the item. It’s symbolic for them.”
Once the destruction is completed, Pope offers customers a place to sit and some water. Sometimes they want to talk, but Aaron always recommends professional resources to everyone.
As for Pope’s plans for the future of the Destruction Room, he wants to expand into part of their SUP shop, adding an additional destruction room and a waiting area. Pricing varies depending on the time, amount of destructors, and the number of items you wish to destroy. Their website lists pricing and has a simple booking process. Aaron provides each destructor with the necessary protective gear and demolition equipment, along with your desired items. He does not have a bring-your-own-items policy.
Pope is happy to see people taking advantage of the idea.
“We hope to see a consistent full schedule,” Pope said. “The Destruction Room is where we help you destroy your stress.”
For more information on the Destruction Room visit http://destructionroom.net
