By turning their former bedroom into two private massage rooms and adding a foyer and half bathroom to the first floor of their Marietta home, Angie and Chris Sullivan have realized Angie's longtime dream of having her own massage therapy business.
"I've been thinking about this for years but the money was never there (but) I wanted it so bad we found the money," said Angie Sullivan. "Since Natural Remedies (Spa) closed (in Marietta), that was the best thing to happen for me - that would've been my competition."
The business, called Colegate Massage Center, opened in September.
Sullivan has been a licensed massage therapist since 2000, having received her training at the American Institute of Alternative Medicine in Columbus. She is also a licensed practical nurse and works two nursing jobs when she's not doing massages.
Also offering massages at the business is Marietta resident Dulcie Trefz, a licensed massage therapist who attended Hocking College in Nelsonville and worked at Natural Remedies Spa in Marietta before it closed.
"I had a pretty steady client base when I worked at the spa, so people have been loyal and that's been great," Trefz said.
Fact Box
Colegate
Massage Center
Located at 1320 Colegate Drive, Marietta.
Owned by Chris and Angie Sullivan.
Swedish, deep tissue, heated stone, reflexology, pregnancy and fibromyalgia massages are offered.
Visit colegatemassagecenter.com for information or call 336-7176.
She added that business so far has been "good."
Trefz and Sullivan offer a variety of massages, each of which has a different benefit.
"We offer as far as types of massages a swedish, we offer deep tissue, we offer the heated stone, Dulcie offers the reflexology, we do a pregnancy massage and a massage for fibromyalgia," Sullivan said.
Sullivan said the most popular type of massage is the deep tissue, and most clients request it for an hour, which costs $55.
"The deep tissue is a deeper massage - it's a deeper pressure and works on individual muscle groups," Sullivan explained.
"My tables are heated so it will be really nice in the winter time (and) I offer hot towels with any massage (for an additional $2.50)," she added.
Trefz pointed out that there are many benefits to getting a massage.
"Massage is good for circulation, de-stressing and areas of pain," she said. "I get a lot of people that do computer work or lifting."
Sullivan said massages are offered seven days a week by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 336-7176. For information, visit colegatemassagecenter.com.
