Have you ever fantasized about unleashing your fury on a computer screen, demolishing a desk, or pulverizing a car door with a sledgehammer? How about shattering glass or hurling axes? These cathartic acts might just be the perfect antidote to the daily pressures that weigh us down. If you’ve nodded in agreement, then the Craze – Memphis Rage Room in Bartlett offers an unconventional haven to unleash those bottled-up emotions.
Meet Sierra Miller, the humorously self-proclaimed “dangerous” proprietor who hatched the ingenious concept around five years ago. She secured a 1,200-square-foot space on Getwell Road and embarked on her mission to provide an outlet for frustrations. “When I started, I just knew I needed a building. I needed some bats and sledgehammers, and I needed some stuff to break,” Sierra recounts, her words tinged with a sense of liberation.
However, when the grip of COVID-19 tightened, Sierra had to adapt. She transformed her venture into a mobile experience. Three years ago, she found a new abode for her enterprise – a 3,400-square-foot flexible office and industrial space in Bartlett at 2810 Bartlett Road. To fuel the frenzy of destruction, Sierra relies on a motley assortment of items. Donations, thrift stores, and the treasure trove of Goodwill provide the bulk of the glassware, while even roadside discards become fodder for the cathartic chaos.
Navigating the challenge of procuring items at a reasonable cost is no easy feat, Sierra admits, as she reflects on the complexities of running her business. Apart from the hunt for items, she grapples with the dual challenge of expanding the enterprise while ensuring profitability. The cost of insurance, heightened due to the inherent risks, adds an extra layer of complexity.
Safety is a paramount concern. Participants are outfitted with face shields, gloves, long pants, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Sierra is quick to affirm that, adhering to the rules, guests have encountered minimal incidents over five years. As a former flight attendant with Pinnacle Airlines, now a full-time realtor for Renter’s Warehouse, Sierra recognizes the importance of managing safety alongside the exhilarating release her establishment offers.
Craze offers a range of packages catering to solo venturers and larger groups, an enticing assortment that even includes the unique activity of axe throwing. While date nights and birthdays frequent her establishment, Sierra has found diverse clienteles seeking solace within her smashing sanctuary. Teams seeking cohesion, tax specialists prepping for the taxing season, and healthcare professionals all converge to find their remedy in destruction.
Kawana Strong, a Hillcrest High teacher and head volleyball coach, has turned to Sierra’s rage room for a distinctive treat. For the past two years, she’s brought her graduating seniors, with plans to extend this therapeutic tradition to her fellow educators. Surprisingly, the seemingly serene students have embraced the chaos with fervor, revealing hidden wellsprings of pent-up emotions. Strong attests, “It really should be a form of therapy,” as she reflects on her own experience decompressing amidst the mayhem.