Tech Unlimited owner Chad Aukes stands outside his business on 3rd North Street. Currently the building is home to a tech repair business, but Aukes is in the early stage of creating a unique entertainment operation featuring axe throwing and smashing household items.

NEW ULM – Ever feel the urge to throw an ax or smash objects to vent frustration, but cannot find an appropriate venue? Soon there could be a place for that.

Chad Aukes, the owner of Tech Unlimited, is planning to bring indoor recreation businesses to New Ulm that combine ax throwing and smash labs.

“The idea is a little out there,” Aukes said. “I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it.”

The business will be located on 3rd North Street, the current site of Tech Unlimited. Aukes plans to build five ax-throwing lanes and two smash lab rooms on the property.

Ax throwing is exactly what it sounds like. Special lanes are set up with targets, and customers are allowed to practice their skills at throwing axes. Ax throwing has become a popular recreational activity across the country, including at least one business in Mankato.

The smash lab part of the business is a little more unique to the region. Smash labs, or rage rooms, as they are sometimes called, are rooms where individuals can safely smash objects.

“We give the person goggles, gloves, and protective outfit and let them smash plates, bottles, or whatever,” Aukes said. “They can throw them against the wall or use a baseball bat.”

The items to be smashed will be supplied by third-party vendors, though Aukes said he would likely take donations as well.

Aukes was inspired to start the business after visiting a rage room in Sioux Falls with his daughter. He said the experience was really fun. In addition, he wanted to better utilize the full space at Tech Unlimited.

The first step in starting this entertainment venue was making sure it was permitted. Last month, Aukes applied for a conditional use permit to operate an ax-throwing and smash room business. The property Aukes intends to use is zoned as industrial, but neighbors residential property.

To his surprise, he faced no opposition from the city during the permitting process. He received no complaints from neighboring properties, in fact, one neighbor gave support for the business. The Planning Commission recommended the permit and last week the New Ulm City Council unanimously approved the permit.

“That was nice of them to push it through,” he said.

The only major concern from the business was possible noise generated by the business, but the closest residents are Aukes and his family.

With the permit approval, Aukes said the next step is getting funding for the new business and remodeling it. In order to accommodate the ax throwing lanes and smash room, the building interior will need to be remodeled. This will require additional building permits. Aukes estimates it could be another year before the business is up and running.

Though the business is still in the startup phase, the response from the public has been positive. He has not received any pushback, even with the unusual nature of the business idea.

Aukes is no stranger to bringing cutting-edge entertainment to New Ulm. In addition to running his technical repair business, he has rented out virtual reality equipment and continues to service the rental e-scooters in the New Ulm and Sleepy Eye areas.

“It is all about bringing fun to New Ulm,” he said.