Monday, July 13, 2009

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.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

South Minneapolis location CLOSES after 15 years!

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?

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!

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!