EDIT - Since posting this review my assailant, Jack, tried to contact me, asking me to speak to him on the phone, as if I am going to have a dialog with him after what he did. Then I received a message from Yelp about "complaints" about my review, and warning me I could potentially be sued. To that I say: if what I said is untrue, then sue me. I encourage and welcome such a trial. I doubt I will have trouble finding other victims of your actions. I stand by my statement and I will gladly defend it civil court.
------------
I have been reluctant to leave this review because I have a pending dispute on my bank card against the establishment, and because the entire experience was so humiliating and upsetting. I also wonder if I'm somehow at fault or did something wrong because everyone else seems to have had great experiences and mentions by name the person who wronged me, but I know in my heart if I don't leave this review and speak the truth of my experience it will haunt me.
I came here because it seemed to me like a legitimate storefront massage spa. It's located on South Street right out in the open, among many other legitimate businesses. I had seen an offer on an app for a $50 ($10 off normal) hour massage for first time visitors. I came in early evening.
The man who greeted me I now know to be Jack, the owner of the establishment as well as a masseur. I asked him if he was available because I feel more comfortable with a man doing my massage, and he said yes. After a short wait we went back to begin, and I undressed and laid on my stomach. He draped me with a sheet and began the massage.
I laid with my arms up around my head rather than at my sides, because this is how I feel most comfortable.
Within the first ten minutes of the massage, Jack's crotch was frequently making contact with my hands. He would lean into them as he worked. I chalked this up to the fact that he is somewhat short, and figured it was probably incidental. I kept moving my hands around, but somehow his genitals kept making contact with them, and at a certain point it became clear that he was getting an erection.
I became somewhat paralyzed at this, which is a very normal response for someone who is being assaulted, which is exactly what was happening to me. Jack continued the massage, ultimately removing the entire sheet and leaving me completely uncovered. It was an adequate massage but at a certain point he focused extensively on my buttocks and seemed to be moving his fingers lightly over what one would call the space in-between. I kept clenching and turning slightly because I feared he was going to try and penetrate me with a finger.
At a certain point he told me to roll over so he could "do the front" and I complied. I realize I am making myself very vulnerable to criticism and attack by being this honest; all I can express to you is that when it's happening to you, you just freeze up and try to wait until it's over.
Jack put a rolled up wash cloth over my eyes like a blindfold, and then did "the front". I can only assume it was still Jack at this point, to be honest, because my eyes were completely covered. This massage consisted of what seemed somewhat legit, excepting I was not covered or draped in any fashion, until it became clear that the hands touching me were basically 'grazing' my genitals repeatedly. I was never fully grabbed there, but I think that's probably because I did not get an erection; it was VERY clear I was expected to respond that way, but in fact I was just tensed up in horror for the duration.
Once this was all over Jack said "Ok all done" and took off like a bat out of Hell. In a stupor I stood up and got dressed, and wandered out in a daze. Jack ran my card and I signed for it, and then he had the audacity to look me in the face and say "Most people tip twenty percent."
I walked out and wandered into a coffee shop where I sat in abject shock over what had just gone down.
I have filed a complaint with the massage licensing board, and as I mentioned, I have filed a dispute with my bank; it turns out I was in there for 90 minutes, so Jack just extended my appointment without my realizing, and charged me $90. In addition to assaulting me.
There's really nothing more to say. It's been over a week and I'm still kind of flabbergasted. I have no objection to sex work, but I don't think the line should be blurred between that and legitimate massage therapy. I can't speak to other peoples' experiences here, but I cannot imagine I am the only person who has received this unexpected 'extra' treatment. read more
