More than a place to break things, Rage Cage Joliet was built to provide a safe outlet for stress relief, emotional release, and mental wellness.
Owner and visionary Tyrell Hundley, a Joliet police officer and former Marine, said the idea behind the business was inspired by his understanding of stress and the importance of healthy outlets for managing it.
Hundley said mental health continues to impact people from all walks of life, and he wanted to create a space where residents could decompress in a safe environment.
“Mental health is huge now,” Hundley said. “I know exactly what stress is and why a healthy outlet is basically vital and crucial to our community. This place gives people a space to release some of that pressure and walk away feeling lighter.”
Created to make the experience more intentional, guests are encouraged to write down personal struggles, frustrations, or emotional burdens on the business’s “Release Wall” before entering the smash rooms.
The Release Wall allows visitors to reflect on what brought them there before stepping inside the smash rooms. The concept is described as the “why” behind the experience, allowing guests to acknowledge what they may be carrying emotionally before releasing it.
“When you come in here, you’re not just smashing things. You’re giving yourself a purpose,” Hundley said. “People can write stress, anxiety, a breakup, or grief, or to have fun and pin it on the wall, then you take those emotions inside the room, and let it go.”
Acknowledging that people process stress differently, Rage Cage Joliet also offers an “Expression Room” for guests who prefer creativity over destruction.
Jamaica Carver, Rage Cage Joliet’s Payroll Manager and Hundley’s sister, said art and creative expression became her personal form of stress relief, which helped inspire the room’s concept. The space allows guests to paint freely in a calmer environment centered around creativity and emotional release.
“Art is how I decompress,” Jamaica said. “I express through art. If I want to draw a flower, I’m going to draw a flower. If I want to draw the sun or the moon, that’s what I’m feeling. I think it gives people another way to release what they’re feeling.”
But what happens after the smashing of televisions, breaking of glass, and painting on canvases? The owners said the mission behind Rage Cage Joliet extends beyond the emotional release found inside the rooms.
Cedricka Carver, Rage Cage Operations Manager and Tyrell’s sister, said they understood early on that some visitors may walk through the doors carrying more than stress. This led the family to think beyond the emotional release found inside the rooms and focus on what support could look like afterward.
“Some people come in for fun, and then other people come in because life is heavy,” Cedricka said. “Regardless of what that looks like, we want to tap into that. We wanted to go beyond smash rooms. We wanted to make sure people had resources after the rage.”
“Beyond The Rage” sees the Rage Cage Joliet partner with local mental health professionals to create, within the facility, what they describe as a wellness resource hub offering ongoing support and healing resources.
“We pride ourselves on raging with purpose,” Cedricka Craver said. “We’ve taken a step further to not only provide a fun environment but also a space that is embodied mental wellness. We believe in treating people well. We believe in people being well, and we want to see our community well. That’s why we do what we do.”
Through QR codes and additional resources placed throughout the space, visitors will have access to information and literature related to mental wellness, emotional support, and other community resources designed to help people continue their healing beyond the smash rooms.
The vision behind Rage Cage Joliet has always been about more than just creating another entertainment business. As a lifelong Joliet resident, Tyrell Hundley said creating healthy outlets for stress and emotional release became deeply personal.
“I’m so involved and invested in the community as a police officer; it’s important for me to give back and create healthy outlets,” Hundley said. “I’m from Joliet for Joliet. This was never just about breaking things. It was about creating a safe outlet for people who need a place to release, reset, and keep moving forward. We believe in raging with a purpose.”
Rage Cage Joliet is open downtown Joliet and offer multiple packages ranging from solo sessions to group experiences and corporate team-building events.
Sessions typically range from 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the package selected. Private parties and special events can reserve the entire facility.
Rage Cage operates by appointment but will not accept walk-ins. Appointments can be made on RageCageJoliet.com
Safety is also a major focus inside the facility. Visitors will be required to sign waivers before entering the rooms and will be provided with protective gear and safety equipment before participating.
The business also offers discounts for mental health professionals, teachers, police officers, and others working in high-stress careers. Additional booking information, opening updates, and pricing details are expected to be announced through the Rage Cage Joliet social media pages.
