Rockford massage parlor owner and residents off to rocky start - Rockford Register Star

[massage]

City condemns business for plumbing, code violations

Chris Green Staff writer @chrisfgreen
ROCKFORD — Jeffrey Cui, owner of the city's newest massage parlor, held a soft opening over the past two weeks to gauge the response from the community.

The reception has been less than welcoming. Neighbors have complained about the business, at 728 N. Prospect St., and the city condemned it this week for plumbing and building code problems.

In the short time that Sanford Therapeutic was open, Cui said, several motorists stopped in front of his business to snap pictures and then speed off. He recently recorded a video of such an incident.

"Look. They almost hit me," he said of the encounter recorded on his cellphone. "And look at how fast they are going."

The Naperville-based businessman said he employs two licensed female massage therapists and is aware of the stigma surrounding massage parlors, a business operated in many communities as a front for human trafficking.

Cui insisted otherwise, however, saying, "There's no hanky-panky here, and it's not just all men. We have female clients, too."

The business is located just outside Ald. Jonathan Logemann's 2nd Ward.

If Cui and his neighbors have gotten off on the wrong foot, Logemann said, Cui is partly to blame.

The alderman said residents did not learn of the new business through traditional channels like the newspaper or TV news reports or a ribbon cutting and open house. Instead, he said they learned of the massage parlor from an advertisement posted on Backpage.com, a classified advertising website whose founder has been accused of knowingly letting underage girls be sold for sex on the site. A link to the Sanford Therapeutic ad, which has since been removed, was spread to residents through Facebook.

"When you have an out-of-town businessman advertising on an odious website, that's not want neighbors want," Logemann said.

Cui said no residents had approached him for a face-to-face conversation to express concerns about the business. However, he believes there is a general disdain for massage parlors as well as for certain proprietors.

From a dark room, Cui retrieved a handmade sign he found displayed on his property. The sign advertised in ethnic slang a particular sex act for $5.

"These are very racist things against Chinese," he said.

Cui has yet to officially open his business. No sign identifies the business, but there is displayed on the front glass door a small yellow sign — a condemnation notice.

"The police were here yesterday" along with a city code inspector, Cui said Wednesday. "I told them, 'We do business honestly. We keep the lights on. We have nothing to hide.'"

The condemnation stemmed from an improperly installed drainage line and dryer ventilation in a laundry room, said Thaddeus Mack, the city's construction and development services manager.

Cui said, "We did the wrong thing on the plumbing, but we'll get it fixed."

The plumbing issue may prove to be far less of a challenge than easing the concerns of his new neighbors.

A message posted Wednesday by Logemann on the North Highland Square Neighborhood Association Facebook page said:

"Because of efforts by concerned neighbors and area aldermen, city officials and the RPD investigated the business operations at 728 N. Prospect yesterday and found numerous code failures and violations. The plumbing, specifically, was not up to code, nor were there permits pulled for further construction. Our city staff condemned the tenant space in question until further notice, with fines assessed as well.

"At last night's LWV (League of Women Voters) and Rockford Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation — RAASE, Inc. — forum on human trafficking, I ran into a neighborhood RPD officer who I've been working with on this issue. The officer indicated there was no evidence of human trafficking over the weekend at this location.

"Neighbors, please stay as vigilant as you have been. Our many eyes on our streets is the most effective tool against illegal activity. I know many neighbors as well as area aldermen are very grateful to city staff for their prompt follow-up to a significant neighborhood issue."

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; [email protected]; @chrisfgreen

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