News & Events at the Great Metropolitan Backrub

We're ON SCREEN at the Riverview Theatre!

2012-01-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Backrub is now ON SCREEN at the Riverview Theater during the pre-show advertising. Look for our new cool ads, and watch the screen for the GREAT DEALS reading these ads provide. Supporting local businesses like the Riverview Theater through advertising is just one of the ways The Backrub helps to make a difference. We're local, so we keep it local. Enjoy the movie!

Everything is NEW

2012-01-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

Local artists and local businesses make the difference!

As a regular customer, you may have watched with some interest the transformation of The Backrub in Highland Park. For almost a year the floors have been shifting and the walls have been changing. What we have now is a fully remodeled store that looks and feels great!

The Backrub would like to acknowledge the artists and local businesses that helped to create our new look and feel:

Apropos Studio, Minneapolis, for the Mural Design: www.aproposstudio.com and Derrick from Apropos for the awning design and installation.
Joe Gergen, Artist, for the custom designed Shoe Stand: www.artnujo.com
Celeste's Honey Do, for wood work, painting and more: (no website, but DO look her up!)
Budget Sign, St. Paul, for the amazing new store front design: www.budgetsignshop.com
Suzanne Shaff Photgraphy, for her amazing photography: www.ShaffPhotography.com
Abbott Paint and Flooring Supply, St. Paul, for great flooring supplies and installation: www.abbottpaint.com

Stop in to see and feel the difference!

Introducing Ardyss Life for pain elimination

2010-11-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

The Backrub is hosting monthly introductory evenings!

Try on and experience for yourself the "majic" of Body Magic shaping systems from Ardyss. We are introducing this product because it has the potential to eliminate your pain while at the same time slimming your shape!
Find our more by calling our office: 612-221-0131
Introductory evenings are held the second Sunday of each month,
7-9pm at The Backrub in Highland Park. 762 S. Cleveland Ave., St. Paul, 55116

Annette Rondano wins 2010 Super Chick Award

2010-11-24T14:21:00.000-08:00

Annette Rondano, owner of The Great Metropolitan Backrub in St. Paul, has spent 15 years devoting her time, energy and ingenuity into growing her small retail massage store into a thriving bodywork/massage therapy business. In honor of her success, Rondano recently received the 2010 SuperChick Business Innovation Award from Rich Chicks, a Minnesota organization devoted to prosperity-based financial education for women. The award recognizes Rondano’s innovative collaborative business model as what sets her apart from other businesses in the ever-growing, ever-competitive massage industry.

Read the official press release: http://www.free-press-release.com/news-st-paul-s-great-metropolitan-backrub-wins-kudos-for-business-innovation-1290628631.html

2009-07-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Backrub gets some ink from the St. Paul Pioneer Press! No one was rubbed the wrong way here...

Our Store Troopers test public massages, and some were rubbed the wrong way

By Allison Kaplan
Updated: 07/10/2009 11:07:27 AM CDT

Photo: David Miller gives a 40-minute massage to a customer at the Great Metropolitan Backrub in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood. The walk-in massage studio offers fully-clothed massage in an open setting. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

Wherever there are crowds of people with time on their hands, money in their pockets and tension in their necks, there's a massage chair. Quickie relaxation outposts have become as ubiquitous at shopping centers as pretzel stands and the pushy characters selling lotion at kiosks.

On the one hand, it makes sense to offer folks a fast, affordable escape from a noisy, chaotic place. Mall massages average a buck a minute and don't require reservations. But is it possible to relax on the spot, exposed, surrounded by shoppers and cash registers and screaming children? Does a 10-minute rubdown do much more than leave a customer wanting more?

We found out by treating — or, more aptly in a couple of cases, subjecting — five of the newspaper's consumer volunteers, the Store Troopers, to 10-minute public chair massages.

Take a cleansing breath and let our loosened-up troop help you decide whether to go for the instant gratification, with its obvious limitations, or save up for a spa experience complete with cucumber water, new-age music and a door.

STORE TROOPER: Rolla Breitman of St. Paul

Visited: The Great Metropolitan Backrub, 762 S. Cleveland Ave., St. Paul

Price: $10 for 10 minutes (senior rate; regular price is $15 for 10 minutes or $10 with a $25 monthly membership)

Experience: Located in a storefront in the heart of Highland Park, three massage tables are set up in a common room with window views for walk-in massages. Getting massaged next to a stranger was, well, strange, but Breitman was able to "block it out" because the person next to her was quiet. When another customer wandered in, Breitman's masseuse handed him a sheet and asked him to wait.

Effectiveness: The masseuse asked about problem areas and concentrated on those. At the end, he showed Breitman exercises to loosen her shoulders. Breitman worried 10 minutes would not be enough to help her sore neck but says, "It definitely helped relieve stress in a short time."

Recommendation: "I would recommend it to friends. Not a bad way to spend $10.74 (with tax)."

Click here to see the whole article with four other businesses reviewed.

South Minneapolis location CLOSES after 15 years!

2009-02-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

It's sad but true! After 15 years in the Uptown and South Minneapolis, the Great Metropolitan Backrub has closed it's Minneapolis doors. Much to the chagrin of our most regular customers, we have consolidated our locations into one fabulous location in Highland Park, St. Paul.

We hope you will join us there! With so much to see and do, Highland Park is the GEM of both St. Paul and Minneapolis. Bookstores (2), restaurants (many), gift shops, coffee shops and more await you as you wait for or finish up the best massage or shiatsu session of your life. See our blog posting below for the most recent schedule. But most of all: STOP BY AND SEE US!!!

We will miss you South Minneapolis. So come and see us soon!

Looking for someone specific on staff?

2009-02-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

With so many changes - store closings and staff leaving, we thought you might want to know where your favorite therapists are on the staff schedule. Look for your favorite GMB practitioner on this updated schedule:

Monday
11am – 3:30pm Bridgette Jackson
3:30pm – 8:00pm Dean Jurek
Birgit MacIntosh

Tuesday
11am – 3:30pm Manola Suvannarad
3:30pm – 8:00pm Bridgette Jackson
Manola Suvannarad

Wednesday
11am – 3:30pm Dean Jurek
3:30pm – 8:00pm David Miller
Manola Suvannarad

Thursday
11am – 3:30pm Jen George
3:30pm – 8:00pm David Miller
Ben Bartlein

Friday
11am – 3:30pm Dean Jurek
2:00 – 6:00pm Nicole Klett
3:30pm – 8:00pm Manola Suvannarad
Crystal Bauer

Saturday
11am – 3:30pm Manola Suvannarad
1pm – 5:00pm Birgit Macintosh
3:30pm – 8:00pm David Miller
Dean Jurek

Sunday
12:00pm - 3:30pm Ben Bartlein
Nicole Klett
3:30pm – 7:00pm Dean Jurek
DeAnna Caudillo

Nancy says "good-bye" after 4 1/2 years!

2009-02-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

Nancy Adams has been a fixture at the Highland Park Great Metropolitan Backrub for almost 5 years now. Many of her most loyal customers will miss her treasured snippits of advice and consistent sense of humor.

She is leaving to spend more time with her grandkids, and to take some much needed time for herself.

We will all miss her winning smile and fabulous massage. Good luck Nancy!

Stephanie Miller loves a good Backrub!

2008-01-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

Did you miss the Blue State Ball?

Stephanie Miller was on fire with her humor and charm - AND was completely wiped out at the end of the night! Thanks goodness The Great Metropolitan Backrub was on hand to send her back to L.A. fully recovered! Here she is getting settled into the comfort of our exclusive Golden Ratio massage chair. Her able practitioner, Ben Bartlein, local Minneapolis Shiatsu practitioner, was on hand (pardon the pun) with his amazing backrub skills... Steph was so relaxed we had to peel her out of the chair!

Stacey Jablonski, local Massage Therapist, along with Ben, held up for over four hours giving great backrubs to the happy throng (see our Staff Page for more info about both Ben and Stacey).

If you missed the Blue State Ball this year, make sure it is the last time you do! Over 2,000 Minnesota progressives gathered to celebrate the New Year and a new direction for our country. Food, music, celebrities and plenty of good political debate are all part of this fabulous annual celebration. We met Al Franken, Keith Ellison, Mike Cerisi, Ed Schultz... the Alfalfa Males played the entire night and were amazing to boot! We'll be back next year, so put the event on YOUR social calendar. ~ Annette

Check out Jessica's New Private Practice Studio!

2007-12-12T03:56:00.000-08:00

Exciting News! I am moving my practice from Uptown to the Longfellow Neighborhood in South Minneapolis on January 1st, 2008. My new studio is directly across from Longfellow Park (four blocks south of Lake Street on 36th Avenue). It is large and quiet with plenty of parking right in front of the building.

I am excited about this move and hope to see you at the new studio soon! The address is: 3357 36th Avenue South.

You can find out more about Jessica's Private Practice at www.startingspirit.com

How can we say "Goodbye" to such a good friend?

2007-12-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

She aptly calls herself, "The Happy Backrubber." Marlys Brovold is moving on from the GMB staff to a new spa that she has purchased in St. Anthony Park in St. Paul. Check out her new digs: Perfect Little Spa at www.plspa.com or locate her on City Search.

There will be buckets in each corner of the Highland Store to catch the tears of customers and staff who will miss her dearly! Her great massages and welcoming smile will be missed in Highland Park.

Look her up at Perfect Little Spa when you can't take it anymore!

Holiday Boutique at Benjamin's Studio

2007-11-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

Stop by the Holiday Boutique held by Benjamin - Backrub Staff Member - and friends at his studio:

Minnehaha Yoga Studio - 4141 Minnehaha Ave S, Minneapolis, 55406

Saturday, December 1st 4-8pm

Here are the details: Join us for a bit of good cheer & cool shopping. Local artist and Fair trade imports. Treasures to give as gifts or keep for yourself. Jewelry, clothes, teas, soaps, hats, music, yoga bags, and much more! Special prices on Yoga gift certificates. Invite and bring your friends!

Information: 612-729-8387

News from the Backrub - Fall 2007

2007-11-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

Store hours have changed at the Uptown store in south Minneapolis:

South Minneapolis
(Uptown)

11-8 Monday thru Friday
12-6 Saturdays
12-5 Sundays

Call ahead or walk-in! 612-825-6633 calls the store directly. We can't wait to see you!