Bloomfield Massage Parlors Busted

....and this is why Maplewood has BANNED massage parlors within the town's boundries.

Take note Mr. Mayor!

I dunno, Sandy, there are plenty of legit massage outlets. I would be a wreck without my monthly massage!

You can find illegal activity within any business. It's unfortunate that businesses like the one cited above give a black eye to the whole profession.

No happy ending to this story.

Oh, and South Orange, Millburn, Summit and Livingston as well ! They are alive & well in Irvington, Newark, Orange, East Orange and Bloomfield, the towns our leaders mentally link us with.
It's THIER vision of this town that needs to change. Stop mentally associating Bloomfield with East Orange, Orange & Newark and aspire to be a destination point for Montclair & Glen Ridge households. The leaders here aren't.

We have more pizza places, check cashing places, massage parlors, junk stores than most towns in the county. Enough allready. Other than people who live in Bloomfield, our shopping is not a destination point for others, with the exception of those who come via bus routes, from the East & South of us.

This will really, if you'll pardon the obvious, put a crimp in my style. I especially enjoyed the 10AM "Early Bird" special at Bodies in Balance. Such a toned, fit group as frequented this place you'll never see. From the plush designer robes and slippers, to the fine oils and relaxing classical music piped through a state of the art sound system, your $25 plus "gratuity" was a bargain. Sometimes you could even pick up a little powdered "tiramisu", if you know what I mean, from one of the helpful (and very muscular!) male employees.
This is a real, ahem, "blow" to Bloomfield's business sector.

with the exception of those who come via bus routes

Ah nothing like a little veiled racism in the morning!

Agreed there. Bloomfield needs an anchor store, like a Macy's, a Lord & Taylor, etc. Gosh, if Wayne can have a Bloomingdale's, why can't Bloomfield have a similar anchor? I agree, enough with the discount/dollar stores, nail salons, etc. They are simply not attacting bigs bucks to the area, which is what Bloomfield needs if it tryuly wants to see a revitalization.

Agreed there. Bloomfield needs an anchor store, like a Macy's, a Lord & Taylor, etc. Gosh, if Wayne can have a Bloomingdale's, why can't Bloomfield have a similar anchor? I agree, enough with the discount/dollar stores, nail salons, etc. They are simply not attacting bigs bucks to the area, which is what Bloomfield needs if it truly wants to see a revitalization.

Back when I was living in Bergen County, it was easy to determine which parlors/salons weren't legit b/c they would for some reason just mail out advertisements to the male members of the household instead of the female ones . . . It was no surprise when a few weeks later, you would read about the local police shutting the place down for prostitution.

I'm glad to hear that Bloomfield is taking action about this, and surprised they haven't done so earlier. It couldn't be more obvious from the "Bodies in Balance" web site what the place is all about.

Sandy, I agree with MM that I hope you're distinguishing between unfortunately-called "massage parlors" and legitimate spas and massage therapists.

I used to work as an independent certified MT, and I can't tell you how many yo-yos called me thinking I offered 'extra' services, even though all of my advertising was carefully and clinically worded to ensure that there was no ambiguity. I was also once groped by a new client who clearly assumed something more was on offer.

I'm not sure what the answer is to the legal issues surrounding prostitution. Perhaps it should be legalized and regulated so that sex workers can have some protection for their legal rights as well as their health. That's a discussion for another day, perhaps.

In the meantime, by calling themselves 'massage therapists,' these people are endangering women who train and work legitimately in this field.

Ha! Yes, the web site. My first clue would be that they only offer their services to "gentlemen."

Since we are on the topic, can anyone suggest a good and legit massage parlor in the area? The one I used to go to is too far a drive.

EGI Institute on Grove Street in Verona, 973-571-9801, is very good.

There are also some excellent ones that work out of their homes but I am reluctant to post their info on a blog.

Maria Margate is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist who has an office on Valley Road. She is excellent. Phone: 973-233-9007.

RaeVen: just as an FYI, calling a spa or MT office a 'massage parlor' really puts off a lot of MTs because of its unsavory connotations.

erm, did anyone happen to look at the staff slide show? if it's not clear what this place is about after seeing that, then i don't know what would convince you. it really does give legit places a bad name.

That is one crazy slide show! And they are all wearing white - ha!

Of course they're wearing white! Why, they're almost doctors!
I love the part of the site that states, "if there is a particular place that you feel would benefit from special attention, etc.."
Now, that is truth in advertising.

All the police have to do is send in someone to inquire about those "extra services" to find out if they are legit or not. If you see all men, and not any women customers, that would raise an eyebrow.

Well, now, slow down Sandy. Many years ago in the East Village the Russian baths on 10th Street accepted only men, with one night set aside for just women. I don't know how they do it now. It was totally legit -- you went in there and took a steam or a nice plunge into the ice cold pool, and you could get a nice thrashing with birch branches (I think it was birch) from some beefy Ukranian that would, let's say, wake you up. Just the cure for a hangover -- (I'm told!).

Hey! How'd my picture get up there???? You guys what jokesters!!

That site is hysterical! Sooo obvious. All the photos of the "therapists" don't show their face!

In the meantime, by calling themselves 'massage therapists,' these people are endangering women who train and work legitimately in this field.

Perhaps they should call themselves 'lawyers.'

Perhaps they can call themselves "knob polishers".

Wow, that's pretty blatant. I'm not one to be oblivious to stuff but I'm surprised I missed that this was going on.

A new day spa opened in Bloomfield. My guess is they do not offer "special services"

http://www.baristanet.com/2007/12/bliss_in_bloomfield.php

Perhaps they should call themselves 'lawyers.'

Works for me...

Kate, have you been to Maria Margate for acupuncture? I'm interested in finding an acupuncturist in the area, and it's hard to know who to go to.

Hey, Becky:

I haven't been to Maria for acupuncture, so I can't comment on her skills there (although based on her work as an MT, I'd bet she's very good).

There is an acupuncture school in Montclair--http://www.easternschool.com/--that could probably recommend someone local if you tell them what your needs are.

Also, I have been to an acupuncturist in Maplewood whom I think is quite good:

Christopher Butler
137 Parker Ave
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 763-0032

Chris is also an herbalist and has a specialty in women's health issues.

Hope that's helpful--good luck!

K

Are they really that much cheaper than hookers?

"Are they really that much cheaper than hookers?"

No, but they really are much cheaper than lawyers, and you wind up getting just as f***ed.

When can North Bloomfield become it's own town?

What's the difference between hookers and lawyers?

Hookers will stop screwing you when you're dead.

Many thanks, Kate!

"Although walk-in visits are welcome, we encourage booking an appointment in advance in order to avoid the use of our waiting area."

Between that line and the ridiculous photos of the 'staff', it's amazing that they weren't shut down sooner!

Deja vu:

Prostitution Arrest in Bloomfield Center
By BloomfieldLife - Aug 30 2006.

The sign on 21 Lackawanna Place reads Lucky Therapy. It's supposed to be a massage parlor, but police allege it's a house of ill repute.

Police arrested Mimi Nam, 40, of Flushing, New York on Friday, Aug. 25 and charged her with prostitution. An undercover officer - working on an anonymous tip - entered the establishment during afternoon hours and began to develop probable cause that prostitution offers had occurred, a police spokesman said.
Property owner Anthony Ellenbogden said police had not notified him of any arrest at his building as of Aug. 28. (The building also houses a pet store, Animal Instincts.) Ellenbogden said he has always been cooperative with the police, and if informed of any illegal activity he would have notified them.

"Hello honey, I'll be late for dinner tonight, I've got to go visit my..." uhhhuhhmmmuuuhhhmmmmm... "lawyer."

"Excuse me, I must consult..." ahominahominahominhomina... "counsel."

"The building also houses a pet store, Animal Instincts."

Hmmm, are you sure that's not the name of a doggie masseuse parlor of ill repute?

There are a couple more "Spas" on Bloomfield Avenue that should be investigated. I always avoid a spa with nasty vertical blinds where the only sign says "OPEN" in neon lights. Community policing, where cops on the beat actually walk and talk with residents and business owners, would make it easier to spot the fronts. I mean, if a storefront makes me suspicious just by looking at it while I'm waiting at a red light, how more obvious does it have to get? The BPD needs to do more of this activity to eliminate the crap. Only when the downtown is safe, will developers draw those anchor stores. When the criminals see a real police presence, they move on...

I guess no one is going to mention the couple in Montclair... oh wait, what was the first rule of fight club again? Something needs to be done in montclair as well, its a stain in our community.

I've lived in Bloomfield for almost nine years and I've never seen a single cop walking a beat. Ages ago, when I lived and worked in Montclair, I do recall seeing a cop or two walking around Bloomfield Ave. or Church Street. I haven't witnessed that recently in any of my frequent visits to Montclair.

Oh I see cops every day in Bloomfield, they're either standing outside of Italia or the Wamu. Which they should be, of course. There are two banks right there which helps cut off any attempt at a robbery and flee into Newark or elsewhere, but just 50+ Yards or so down the street you can watch (as I have)open air drug deals take place near the train station.

Montclair allows a retail Hoochie-Mama business with half-naked manikins dressed in suggestive lingerie in the window AND a supposed massage parlor upstairs, IN THE SAME BLOCK (around the corner) as a proposed elementary school, across from residential homes, a mall with businesses used by families and in an area which is frequented by families (restaurants, barbershop, bank) with young children!

Who owns it? Who else is benefitting (directly or indirectly)? Anyone heard any one on the municipal Council or the BOE express concern or make proposals related to this?

Same goes for other quality of life problems - who benefits?

And, yes, there are legitimate masseurs in Montclair and Verona. They don't advertise with hoochie mama manikins and neon signs.

I just found this thread on Baristanet and thought to leave my 5 cents.

I have always had a hunch about the true nature of the masssage establishment on Lackawanna Plaza. There are basically legit places and non-legit places.

I personally operate my massage therapy practice as part of the chiropractic center of Dr. Giselle de Andrade.

We only offer legit work and our clients are men women and children.

We are located at:
de Andrade Chiropractic
1015 Broad Street,
Bloomfield, NJ 07003

Appointments can be made by calling: 207-618-4549

For anyone who has not a personal massage therapist we would like to offer our standing new clients discount of $20 off on the first massage session.

Joachim J Becker, LMTh

http://www.NJHolisticHealthServices.com

I just found this thread on Baristanet and thought to leave my 5 cents.

I have always had a hunch about the true nature of the masssage establishment on Lackawanna Plaza. There are basically legit places and non-legit places.

I personally operate my massage therapy practice as part of the chiropractic center of Dr. Giselle de Andrade.

We only offer legit work and our clients are men women and children.

We are located at:
de Andrade Chiropractic
1015 Broad Street,
Bloomfield, NJ 07003

Appointments can be made by calling: 207-618-4549

For anyone who has not a personal massage therapist we would like to offer our standing new clients discount of $20 off on the first massage session.

Joachim J Becker, LMTh

http://www.NJHolisticHealthServices.com