Massage Envy Spa to Open in Manhattan, Midtown-West

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Massage Envy Spa, the pioneer and national leader of professional, convenient and affordable massage and spa services, announced today it plans to open a second location in New York City next year.  Massage Envy Spa Franchisee Rita Ewing has signed a lease to open her first Massage Envy Spa at 525 West 42^nd Street, in Manhattan's West Midtown area.

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"My unique combination of health, wellness and business management experience will bring accessible and affordable massage therapy and spa services to Manhattan," Ewing said. "I plan on being a very hands-on operator, committing my time and energy not only to the business, but to the local community and business boards and associations. By joining such a well-respected company, I am able to capitalize on the Massage Envy Spa brand that already resonates with people in such a positive way."

Ewing received her degree in nursing from Howard University and is a published novelist of works, which include Homecourt Advantage and Brickhouse. As a non-practicing attorney, she owned and operated HueMan, a successful bookstore in Harlem, N.Y., which eventually became the country's largest and best-known African-American retail bookstore. She is the former wife of New York Knicks basketball player Patrick Ewing and intends to leverage their friendly relationship to heighten visibility of her new business venture, eventually expanding to more Massage Envy Spa locations in Manhattan.

"To open my first Massage Envy Spa location, I looked to Spirit of Texas Bank for a small business administration (SBA) loan," added Ewing. "They made the financing process quick, friendly and easy; I am eager to open the doors of my first spa later this year."

Midtown West marks just the second franchise agreement announced in New York City. In August 2013, Massage Envy Spa announced the first location, one in the Stuyvesant /Gramercy community, which will open in 2014. Ewing's Midtown West location will open in the fall and brings the total number of operating clinics in New York State to 30.

"Massage Envy Spa's membership model offers Manhattan residents and commuters what's necessary for a balanced lifestyle focused on wellness," said Lori Merrall, Massage Envy Spa's national director of franchise sales.  "We believe, in Rita Ewing, we found a franchisee with the enthusiasm, ability and business acumen to create an extraordinary franchise in Manhattan. We're thrilled she's joined our team."

Today, there are more than 940 locations operating in 48 states, making Massage Envy Spa the largest system of franchised massage clinics in the industry.  The company also is the world's largest employer of licensed/registered massage therapists with at least 21,000 therapists providing over 16 million massages a year to a total of more than 1.4 million members. 

The two New York City franchise agreements are part of Massage Envy Spa's nationwide expansion plan over the next several years. To fuel this growth, the company is looking for specific franchisee candidates who have the ability and the desire to learn and follow a system that ensures value and customer satisfaction. Qualified franchisee candidates should have business sales or management experience, but do not necessarily need to have a massage therapy or spa operations background.  They also should possess a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $150,000. Depending on the real estate, Massage Envy Spa franchisees can expect their initial investment to range from approximately $331,485 – $825,623, including the franchise fee.

Entrepreneurs interested in exploring franchising opportunities with Massage Envy Spa may contact Lori Merrall at (480) 366-4171 and [email protected], or visit Massage Envy Spa's franchising website at massageenvyfranchise.com.

About Massage Envy Spa
Massage Envy Spa, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor, and through its franchised locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States. The national franchise is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and spa services to members and guests with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy Spa has more than 940 franchise locations in 48 states and 1.4 million members.  In addition, the average unit volume for a franchise location is $1.3 million. Through its national partnership with the Arthritis Foundation, Massage Envy Spa has raised more than $2 million in three, one-day Healing Hands for Arthritis events. The company was recently ranked #88 in Franchise Time's Top 200, #54 in Entrepreneur's 2014 Franchise 500 and #24 in its Fastest Growing Franchise rankings. Massage Envy Spa is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and was named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise. For more information, visit MassageEnvy.com.

CONTACT:
Kim Ryan, Fish Consulting
770-205-7423
[email protected]

SOURCE Massage Envy Spa