NYC men’s spa experience from the past

[Mercury]

I haven’t been to NYC since pre-pandemic, but last time I was there, I decided to visit a men’s spa in the city. I honestly cannot remember the name of the spa but it was near Herald Square. 
 

On my phone, I mapped the spas that were in the area that I was in and called a couple to see if they had any available appointments. The spa that I went to happened to be on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the building. I had no idea if I was at the right address because I don’t recall seeing any signage from outside. I enter the building and make my way up to the spa - thankfully I was in the correct location. 
 

The attendant at the front desk told me it would be a few minutes. I was then directed to a room and told someone would be there shortly. I wasn’t given any instructions, so I sat in the room clothed. A couple of minutes later, male therapists came into the room one by one to introduce themselves. I had no idea what was going on because they were just introducing themselves. One guy came in without his shirt on. After the 4th guy, I was super confused and walked to the front desk to ask how the whole process worked, but no one was up front.  I waited about a minute, then decided to walk out. 
 

I’m pretty certain this isn’t the norm, but does this process of selection sound familiar to anyone?  Where I live, you have an appointment and assigned a therapist. When I think back about it, it made me wonder if I was in a male brothel of some sort? 

Edited October 26, 2022 by Mercury

[Marc in Calif]

In some countries that I've visited, massage spas do have a variety of ways to choose your masseur. But I've never experienced this particular method — especially without a host telling you how it works. 

[urbanfetish]

I've never experienced this in NYC. I'm having a hard time figuring out which spa this might have been. I can't think of any that are/were near Herald Sq. The closest would be (or would have been a few years ago...) W Spa on 30th near 7th but that's on the ground floor, Babylon on 6th Ave near 38th(?) which was (is?) on the 2nd floor, and Moon Boy (if memory serves) was a 2nd floor spa on 25th near 6th Ave. I think they closed 6-8 years ago though. Hmmm... I do like having a choice of masseurs when I don't know the staff. I wish more places in NYC offered that as an option. haha

[+ sniper]

There was a short lived spa near Herald Square a few years back. I THINK I had heard of people getting to choose but the one time I went I was not provided a choice. It didn't last too long as I recall. I also remember thinking the massage room looked familiar like maybe I'd seen it in a porn video...

[Mercury]

The masseurs that came into the room also seemed rushed like it was a cattle call. I will say that the whole set up didn’t feel like a place of relaxation or wellness. I remember the room lighting was pink (or were the walls pink?).  The reception area was pretty bare with no decor that emulated a spa experience. Just a table, phone and minimal desk accessories. I wonder if they had just opened and trying to get organized?  This has been driving me crazy for the past 6 years. If I had known that it was going to be a rotational introduction process, I would happily go back again. I would just feel terrible having to reject people. 

Edited October 27, 2022 by Mercury

[+ Lucky]

7 minutes ago, Mercury said:

I would just feel terrible having to reject people. 

Focus on the positive. You are choosing someone, not rejecting the others. They just weren't chosen this time.