Massage Franchise Wins Go-Ahead to Open in Woodridge

Looking for a nearby place to get a massage?

The  gave the go ahead Thursday for an Elements Therapeutic Massage franchise to open for business in the Woodgrove Festival Shopping Center, near 75th Street and Lemont Road.

Village code previously did not allow for a full massage establishment in Woodridge. Instead, massage was restricted to no more than 20 percent of the floor area of a barbershop, beauty salon, medical and dental clinic, health club and massage training institute.

Prospective Elements franchise owner Anita Sheth, a former Woodridge resident who now lives in Burr Ridge, submitted an application to make the change.

The Village Board voted to allow massage establishments in Woodridge's B-2 Zoning District, per its regulations.

According to the ordinance, the village will require any massage facility to obtain a village license, which will include a thorough background check on the license applicant. The village will conduct compliance checks after the license is issued. Massage therapists working at the facility also must have a license.

The ordinance also outlines the requirements for the business to function, with emphasis on the cleanliness of the facility and the need for nontransparent garments covering the sexual and genital areas of therapists and clients.

Elements Therapeutic Massage runs like a health club based on membership. Clients might get a massage for relaxation, muscle pain or as a gift. Insurance may cover some of their services.

There are 80 Elements studios, including facilities in Naperville, Glenview, Palatine and Park Ridge.

J.D. Prager, director of construction management for Elements, said the company targets affluent communities as well as locations where people are more likely to partake in physical therapy and go to the gym. 

Village documents did not state when the massage establishment would open.

It's the second situation in a month in which the village has amended code to allow a business to open. The village approved a similar ordinance Aug. 25 .

Woodridge's previous massage restriction was unique; a study by village officials showed that only one surrounding community restricted massage to a certain floor area of a business. The others allowed massage in at least one zoning district.