Spa's license denied after visit from police
E.B.'s new ordinance requires information on spa employees
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The township recently shut down a West Prospect Street spa after a police officer visited the establishment to check on its licensing information.

The Green Grass Spa failed to meet the township's requirements for health spas, which were the subject of an ordinance adopted by the Township Council last fall in an effort to crack down on illegal operations. In part, the ordinance calls for the police department to conduct checks on the establishments and its workers as part of the licensing process.

When Detective Paul Natalicchio visited the Green Grass Spa on April 4 to check on its operation and make a recommendation for its license renewal, a strange series of events transpired, according to police.

First, he met a man who identified himself as the vice president of the business. However, the man's name did not appear on the license application. Natalicchio said the man was evasive in his answers regarding the operation and employee records.

The man said there were currently two customers in treatment rooms with two separate masseuses, but he could not identify the two employees. He reportedly told the detective that the business put ads in a Korean newspaper and hired the respondents.

After Natalicchio made several requests to speak with the employees, the man responded that they had just run out the back door, said police. He could not produce any tax records for the employees.

After the man could not produce any medical records of customers and stated that he had no affiliation to a medical facility, Natalicchio informed him that he was running an illegal massage parlor. The detective also contacted the state Department of Treasury, which informed him that it would open an investigation into tax evasion and failure to report wages. Officials said the business had operated there for years.

Natalicchio also reported building code violations at the spa.

During the May 14 Township Council meeting, the governing body unanimously upheld a ruling by the township clerk's office to deny the Green Grass Spa's license, saying the spa, which township records indicate was owned by Kyung Ja Won, of North Plainfield, was unable to establish credibility with the township.

Township officials did not find the explanations as to what happened that day to be credible, according to Township Attorney Michael Baker.

Councilman Donald Klemp said he voted for the denial because there was no identification for the employees that day, and the only employee identified on the spa's application to the township was not present.

Councilwoman Catherine Diem said there were too many inconsistencies with the spa's story.

Baker said it was the first inspection by police under the township's new ordinance requiring background information on the spas and its employees, and giving police the authority to inspect the massage parlors.

Baker has said that the ordinance was needed to help to keep out illegal businesses with untrained workers.

Over the years, township police have busted a number of spas on prostitution-related charges. Between March 2003 and April 2005, police made arrests at five different spas, including four on West Prospect Street and one on Summerhill Road.