Angry about the economy? Smash some plates and move on
- added October 09, 2008
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- purplefox
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Despite the economic downturn, one business in prosperous San Diego is booming. Sarah's Smash Shack is a room where, for only $10, anyone can vent their aggression and pent-up frustration by hurling dinnerware and bric-a-brac against a wall for 15-minutes at a time. Music blares, clients dress in protective gear and a neon sign urges them to "Break More Stuff."
Owner of the business, Sarah Lavely, says that many of her clients come because they're "under financial strain, maybe they're stuck in a job they can't leave." For instance, insurance broker Adam DeWitt came with his wife for his birthday and took out their anger about not being able to buy a first home because the banks have frozen lending.
"It was the best $50 we've spent in the last two years, better than filling up your tank with gas, better than paying interest on your credit card," said DeWitt.
The Shack won't let patrons drown in their sorrows -- neither drinks nor food are served. On the "menu" there are delectable glass and ceramic breakables, neatly arranged on shelves, ready to be obliterated in one of several "break rooms" outfitted with checkerboard tiles and slabs of dented steel bolted to a far wall.
One of the most popular items, "The Smash Shack House Special," mimics a rowdy Greek supper club, where diners smash plates when they enjoy the entertainment. The Smash Shack version features 15 plates for 15 minutes for $45.
The advantage to the plates, Lavely said, is that clients can write nasty little epithets on each one in a thick black marker before hurling. Guests also favour highly breakable frames (3 for $10) into which they slip photos of enemies.
The DeWitts plugged in some music by Guns n Roses, scribbled the names of banks and politicians they don't like on plates and smashed away.
"Oh boy, we smashed some plates, a couple of TV trays, some cups and mugs. My wife smashed some glass flowers," said DeWitt.
"You get mad and do something to your own stuff at home and you think to yourself, 'God, that was stupid.' But there you get a pure rush of picking up something and watching it smash and you have no remorse afterward.".
Sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind giving it a try myself sometime, when essays start to loom, though with student loans I'd probably be better off saving my money and going for a run.
Owner of the business, Sarah Lavely, says that many of her clients come because they're "under financial strain, maybe they're stuck in a job they can't leave." For instance, insurance broker Adam DeWitt came with his wife for his birthday and took out their anger about not being able to buy a first home because the banks have frozen lending.
"It was the best $50 we've spent in the last two years, better than filling up your tank with gas, better than paying interest on your credit card," said DeWitt.
The Shack won't let patrons drown in their sorrows -- neither drinks nor food are served. On the "menu" there are delectable glass and ceramic breakables, neatly arranged on shelves, ready to be obliterated in one of several "break rooms" outfitted with checkerboard tiles and slabs of dented steel bolted to a far wall.
One of the most popular items, "The Smash Shack House Special," mimics a rowdy Greek supper club, where diners smash plates when they enjoy the entertainment. The Smash Shack version features 15 plates for 15 minutes for $45.
The advantage to the plates, Lavely said, is that clients can write nasty little epithets on each one in a thick black marker before hurling. Guests also favour highly breakable frames (3 for $10) into which they slip photos of enemies.
The DeWitts plugged in some music by Guns n Roses, scribbled the names of banks and politicians they don't like on plates and smashed away.
"Oh boy, we smashed some plates, a couple of TV trays, some cups and mugs. My wife smashed some glass flowers," said DeWitt.
"You get mad and do something to your own stuff at home and you think to yourself, 'God, that was stupid.' But there you get a pure rush of picking up something and watching it smash and you have no remorse afterward.".
Sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind giving it a try myself sometime, when essays start to loom, though with student loans I'd probably be better off saving my money and going for a run.
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