A lawsuit filed by the city on Wednesday alleges that a men’s spa in Times Square engaged in providing illicit sexual services to undercover officers posing as customers, including some who had undergone medical procedures for stab wounds.
This spa, located near Stietown, reportedly offered various services for under $100, including as low as around $100, following massages earlier this year.
According to the documents, undercover officers visited the Times Square Menspa on West 44th Avenue twice in January. There, they discovered $50 massages were available, along with “manual stimulation” for an additional $50.
“These establishments are ignoring the law, and we aim to close them down,” stated Nicola Paolucci, a spokesperson for the City Department of Justice. “Ensuring that New Yorkers enjoy a decent quality of life is crucial for us.”
Workers at the spa, however, denied any wrongdoing. One of them claimed, “I’ve never seen anything like that happen here.” A sign in the spa even suggested, “It’s not hanky-panky. Keep it under your pants.”
A nearby supermarket employee remarked about the situation, saying, “It’s business… I really don’t know what’s going on there.”
At another location, the new East Men’s Spa on First Avenue and East 16th Street, undercover officers experienced similar services. They were quoted a nominal fee of $48 for massages but were informed that if they wanted extra stimulation, the cost would rise to $85.
On Thursday, a man inside the spa, while looking at his receipt, insisted that he had “got the wrong thing, not here,” and when asked about the manager, a second man from the back emerged, gestured for silence, and ushered a reporter out.
A neighbor mentioned, “There was another owner before, but he left. The new owner came in after Covid. I often see a couple of guys there. Honestly, I have no idea what they’re up to.”
