Geneva massage spa listed in erotic database closed, moved

GENEVA – A massage therapy business in Geneva, which closed after a reporter questioned its business practices, has closed up shop, left and the property is now available for rent.

Asian Massage Spa, at 622 W. State St., Geneva, which was listed in an online database of erotic massage businesses that offer sexual favors, closed earlier this month after a reporter questioned its business practices.

A sign from listing agent, Doug Summers, is posted outside the now-apparently empty building, advertising it for rent.

According to Summers Real Estate Pros’ website, the property “is a converted vintage house located directly on State Street … with great visibility and a high car count. First floor is great retail space in bustling downtown Geneva.”

However, the photo in the online ad was taken when a previous business had rented the property, Image Awards Engraving and Creative Keepsakes, which had moved to 1031 E. State St., Geneva.

When the property was rented to Asian Massage Spa, the business name was not on the outside of the building, but was listed, along with its address in Geneva and a phone number, in the online database.

Other than a neon open sign, a small, hand-written sign in the front porch window advertised the price for a massage was $60 for a one-hour session – the same as was listed in the online database.

The Kane County Chronicle is not naming the database, which also lists various other massage establishments in Kane, DuPage, McHenry and DeKalb counties, as well as in Chicago and suburbs.

Human trafficking in massage parlors is the second most common type of trafficking reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at polarisproject.org.

Signs that differentiate sex trafficking sites from legitimate massage therapy venues include a lower price than average for a massage, windows are covered or there are no windows at all, a locked entrance doors, excessive security cameras and a steady flow of male clientele, according to the website.

When a reporter went to the location on Dec. 3, the inside door was locked and its window was covered with a poster of foot massage. All the windows in the building were covered, except for a basement window where a washer and dryer were visible. No security cameras were visible, but right before a woman reporter was refused entrance, a man had gone inside.

Another way to tell whether a massage business is legitimate is to Google the name and see if it comes up on a sexually graphic online advertisement, according to the polarisproject.org website.

In an email, Geneva police stated that the department was alerted to potential illegal activity at that location.