The Grand Avenue massage parlor was shut down last week for alleged prostitution. (Laura Hanrahan)
Feb. 22, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
A Maspeth massage parlor with a seedy history was shut down last week by court order due to alleged prostitution.
Signs posted by the NYPD on the door of the “Back Rub Foot Rub Facial” parlor, located at 66-47 Grand Ave., show the court order was issued by the Queens Supreme Court on Feb. 13. for prostitution allegedly taking place on the site.
This is not the first time the Grand Avenue parlor has been linked to prostitution, with several employees having been arrested for the crime in years past. In March 2015, one employee was arrested after offering a massage and sexual intercourse to an undercover detective for $140, according to reports.
The following month, three more employees, none of which were licensed to perform massages in New York, were arrested and charged with prostitution and unauthorized use of a professional title.
A court order posted on the door of the parlor by the NYPD. (Laura Hanrahan)
Council Member Robert Holden says the parlor has been on his radar for the past four years, dating back to his time as the president of the Juniper Valley Civic Association.
After taking office, Holden relayed numerous complaints to the NYPD and regularly followed up with the police to ensure an investigation was underway.
“This particular location has been a nuisance in the neighborhood for many years and I am glad that my office was able to contribute to this enforcement,” Holden said. “The community can rest assured that I will continue to make this a priority.”
Holden said there are several other unseemly locations in his district that are also on his radar that will continue to be looked into.
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4 Comments
Hey why not? the neighborhood has changed. Greedy landlords renting without screening. The hood has become a used car emporium .
Legalization of prostitution should happen. For men and women. Straights or gays. Whatever else is out there. We all have needs . It avoids slime like this, keeps it safe, and we can make the tax money. Its only a matter of time. First the government started taking numbers, then lotto, horseracing which they screwed up, and next will be sports gambling and weed. Who has a need for dating when your in your 40s or 50s. I want to do my thing and go back home to my dog and be left alone. Who needs some nagging spouse.
Terrible…Putting small business out of business. The people working at the fine establishment were pulling hard to make a living and now all is soft. The certainly is not a happy ending to this story.
This business provides a valuable public service and should not be closed.