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local specialty
Dec. 7th, 2008 12:16 amSimilar businesses tend to congregate together. Zoning restrictions can keep shops away from houses and put them with other shops, or put factories with other factories, but I'm talking about something on a different scale. There are a lot of Armenian grocers in Watertown, a lot of finance offices downtown, a lot of kosher bakers in Brookline. Sometimes it's obvious when and how a neighborhood is changing. I was worried about Arlington having so many empty storefronts and places to rent. I was worried about so much of the good business space being used by banks. (What does a bank gain from having multiple branches of a bank in such a small town? What do they gain that makes it a good use of those storefronts that shut down at 4pm?) Now I'm growing less worried and more confused, as the town seems to have a lot of new businesses.
It was only when I paid attention from the sidewalk that I noticed how many of the new businesses along Mass Ave are massage therapists. Waterhouse Wellness, Innovative Bodywork, Common Sense Massage, and some of the signs with "chiropractic and massage" or "reiki and massage" look they're aiming for a therapeutic experience. Massage Envy and Body Tune look more like they advertise recreational massage, though for all I know the massage is the same and they just sell different ambiance. The unfortunately named Golden Water Massage only has a sign with their name, as do many other less memorable places. I thought about walking down Mass Ave with a notebook to collect all the names of new massage places, but I didn't have time today, and it's supposed to snow tomorrow.
Is this new, or did I just not notice before? Is Arlington a really good place for massage therapists to set up offices? ("Just steps from the bikeway! Limp over for some revitalizing sports massage!" Probably not that.) I know some places are hotspots for infectious diseases, or even for food poisoning, but is it remotely plausible for Arlington to have more musculoskeletal problems than other towns?
It was only when I paid attention from the sidewalk that I noticed how many of the new businesses along Mass Ave are massage therapists. Waterhouse Wellness, Innovative Bodywork, Common Sense Massage, and some of the signs with "chiropractic and massage" or "reiki and massage" look they're aiming for a therapeutic experience. Massage Envy and Body Tune look more like they advertise recreational massage, though for all I know the massage is the same and they just sell different ambiance. The unfortunately named Golden Water Massage only has a sign with their name, as do many other less memorable places. I thought about walking down Mass Ave with a notebook to collect all the names of new massage places, but I didn't have time today, and it's supposed to snow tomorrow.
Is this new, or did I just not notice before? Is Arlington a really good place for massage therapists to set up offices? ("Just steps from the bikeway! Limp over for some revitalizing sports massage!" Probably not that.) I know some places are hotspots for infectious diseases, or even for food poisoning, but is it remotely plausible for Arlington to have more musculoskeletal problems than other towns?
