The Now Massage: Vacation Vibes Without Leaving North Loop
When Luise Belisle lived in Santa Monica several years back, she and her friends made visits to The NOW Massage part of their regular routine. Fast-forward to today in North Loop, and Belisle is now a franchise owner herself, opening the first Minnesota location for the LA-based brand founded in 2015.
“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and The NOW has always stuck out to me as such a special magical place of healing and relaxation that I think is just so beneficial for everyone to experience,” said Belisle. “We are just so thrilled that we are just a few days away from opening! It truly has been a dream of mine for years to have my own business in the wellness space.”
Franchise owner Luise Belisle explained The Now is known for this hallway, “where we have wood beams and canvas to separate what we call our journey rooms. It really takes you back into that vacation feeling, and it’s really unique.”
The NOW provides Swedish-based massages with various enhancements designed to de-stress and rejuvenate. Enhancements include deep tissue, cupping, crystal hot stones and more. “So however you’re feeling, in that moment, in that day, our team will really assist you and guide you through what would be the best service for your benefit that day,” explained Belisle.
The NOW is membership-based, at $90/month for a 50-minute massage.”Self-care, and especially massage, is beneficial for all of us, so it should be accessible,” said Belisle. There’s non-member pricing too, but members save $45. Billing is month-to-month, avoiding being locked in to annual contracts.
“The whole idea is affordable luxury,” explained Belisle. “You come into our space, and it feels like Tulum (in the Caribbean), somewhere where you’ve been on vacation. We have our waves playing, we have our signature jasmine coconut scent. So from the minute you walk into our doors, you’re greeted by our team and your shoulders instantly drop and you’re relaxed.”
One of The Now’s massage tables, called “journey rooms” to transport clients to that tropical vacation feeling.
Two Due Dates
The NOW is located in the former Queen Anna retail space, which was transformed to a tropical wellness oasis in ten intense weeks. Throughout construction, Belisle has been managing two due dates: August 18 for her official opening, and Labor Day for the birth of her third child.
Construction “was a labor of love,” said Belisle. “It was my first time doing any sort of commercial real estate and construction, and I loved it. I love a good challenge, and I’m also 36 weeks pregnant, so that was just an extra little cherry on top to the process!”
The Now sells most of the products it uses, including its signature Jasmine Coconut candle, a healing Hemp Calm Balm and healing crystals.
Why North Loop?
Belisle chose North Loop because she enjoyed her own visits here for workouts and shopping. “So as we were looking at spaces, I wanted to be around this community, whether it was the people, but also the wellness focus of this neighborhood really fits our clientele. To be among such amazing other businesses and be additive to the neighborhood is like a dream come true.”
The Now Massage is located at 109 N. 2nd St.
Grand Opening Specials
The NOW will have a soft opening on Sunday, August 16 from 10am to 1pm, with complimentary chair massages, tours and treats. They’ll be officially open for appointments beginning August 18, and booking is available online now.
The NOW is located at 109 N. 2nd Street, next door to The Ten Spot.
–– By Mary Binkley, NLNA President