New 'Extreme Massage' parlour worries Plateau residents

CTV Montreal: Extreme Massage Plateau Mont-Royal residents are worried that a new business getting some attention will only add to the trouble they've already seen.

Plateau Mont-Royal residents are worried that a new business getting some attention will only add to some of the trouble they've already seen.

Online ads recruiting women to work at 24-hour massage parlour Extreme Massage suggest it may offer more than a standard therapeutic massage.

Residents want the city to take measures to keep it from opening.

“They have a permit under personal care, but we're wondering what kind of personal care is needed in a residential area 24 hours a day,” said Amy Lilien, who owns a property near the business, which is on Roy St. between St. Dominique and St. Laurent Sts.

LIlien noted that the online application form for Extreme Massage requires applicants who want to be 'extreme girls’ provide their height, weight and photos – but no proof of certification in massage therapy.

“We're wondering why they're looking for ‘extreme girls’ and not certified massage therapists,” she said.

Lilien and other residents in the area fear Extreme Massage – adjacent to a daycare and a children's park – will only add to gang-related problems they've already seen in their neighbourhood.

“We're having increases in stabbings and shootings in our neighbourhood. We have a lot of problems associated with nightlife,” she said.

The borough can't withhold or revoke a permit for a business that hasn't broken any laws, said Projet Montreal councillor for the borough, Alex Norris.

“We share the citizens’ concerns,” he said. “No public authority has the power to shut down an establishment before it's even open on the basis of an assumption of going to go on there. The police have to go there and gather evidence in order to shut it down if there is indeed illegal activity taking place there.”

Montreal police will keep a close eye on Extreme Massage, said Cmdr. Stephen Verrissimo, the police commander responsible for morality.

“We'll intervene when we have any indication that there is minors, organized crime, any type of violence or that the business is located nearby daycares,” he said.

“We're really hoping that the grounds on which the issue of the permit was granted will be re-evaluated,” said Lilien, adding that she and other property owners will continue to pressure the city and police to protect their neighbourhood.

“There's lot of initiatives to bring in more people and make it more family and tourist-friendly and at the same time they're bringing in businesses like this,” she said.