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Massage Parlor Offering Body Washes Opens Across from Child Care Center

By Alisa Hauser | October 24, 2013 11:46am | Updated on October 24, 2013 11:52am
 Healing Hands Massage is now open at 1625 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park.
Healing Hands Massage Opens in Wicker Park
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WICKER PARK  — A new massage parlor has opened in Wicker Park near a day care center and the site of another day care that aims to open by the end of this year.

Healing Hands Massage recently opened at 1625 W. North Ave., putting out the call for customers online with ads offering "free table showers," or body washings.

Since Oct. 18, the massage parlor has posted several ads to Chicago Backpage promoting female-to-male massage and table showers.

Located in a commercially zoned building which permits taverns and massage parlors, the Healing Hands is across from a former manufacturing building at 1612 W. North Ave. that will become a private day care center, the Gardener School, by the close of this year.

 Since Oct. 18, a new massage parlor at 1625 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park has placed five ads on Chicago Backpage, an online classified site.
Since Oct. 18, a new massage parlor at 1625 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park has placed five ads on Chicago Backpage, an online classified site.
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Chicago Backpage/Screenshot

A nearby child care center, ABC Daycare at 1634 W. North Ave., serves about 30 children.

The massage parlor is located in Ald. Joe Moreno's 1st Ward, but the business will be in Ald. Bob Fioretti's 2nd Ward when the city's ward remap takes effect for elections in 2015.

A spokesman for Moreno referred questions to Fioretti. Fioretti did not respond to a request for comment.

The north side of North Avenue, where the two day cares are located, are in Ald. Scott Waguespack's 32nd Ward. Elizabeth Gomez, a spokesman for Waguespack, said, "We haven't gotten any calls about it." 

Officials from the two day care centers declined to comment on their new neighbor.

A Chicago massage establishment license hanging on the wall of Healing Hands Massage lists its owner as Liya Tao, who was unable to be reached for comment.

A worker at Healing Hands Massage, who said she had difficulty understanding English, would not allow a reporter to take photos inside the nondescript salon Wednesday, though a photo of the inside of Healing Hands appeared in a Craigslist ad Thursday promoting grand opening specials.

A price list on the counter of the parlor advertises six types of massages beginning at 15 minutes in length, including a "four hand" massage given by two massage therapists that costs $80 for 30 minutes, or $120 for 60 minutes.

Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs is responsible for granting licenses and inspecting businesses with massage establishment licenses, according to an online fact sheet.

The salons are inspected every two years when the license is renewed and are subject to random inspections, too.

Healing Hands Massage replaced Rockstar Hair Boutique, which closed last year.