A new way to relieve stress

ROANOKE, Virginia. – Imagine a place where you can let go, break things and walk away stress-free!

A new business in Roanoke promises just that – it’s called The Stress Factory.

You can come in and get dressed for safety, then the staff will place breakables in a room and you can go wild with the armory of your choice. But it's much more than a typical rage room.

At the Stress Factory, visitors can choose from a selection of breakable objects, such as old televisions and glassware, which are then placed in a designated room. Equipped with tools such as bats and hammers, guests are invited to release their frustration through destruction.

Edward Day, president and CEO of The Stress Factory, explained the motivation behind the business. “I think it can be very useful, especially because the youth in the city are very bored now and I grew up here. An idle mind is the devil's playground. So I thought I'll create a place where people can take out their boredom and do something constructive with it,” said Day.

The facility aims to be more than just a place to break things. It offers a “decompression package” that helps clients transition from the energetic experience of smashing things to a more relaxed state.

“We're not a place that brings you here, lets you break things, and then kicks you out the door with the same energy. Our goal is to bring you here and allow you to turn that energy into something positive by releasing it in a safe, controlled space by taking you there and then bringing you back down safely. And when we say that, we mean our decompression package that comes with all of our Rage Room options,” Day added.

The Stress Factory opened its doors Friday and is already looking to expand its offerings to include food and beverages. The first of its kind in the Roanoke area, it offers a unique approach to stress management.