The team at Bliss Massage & Wellness Center in Leominster is celebrating its 15th anniversary in business. Bottom row, from left, Alexandra Villa, Molly Lynch, Morgan Rousseau, Kelly Beauregard, Sydney Langston, Tegan Chaklin and Danielle Bourgeois. Top row, from left, Bliss owners Julia Capone, Courtney Dennis, Adrianna Gamble, Sarah DeBonis, Jen Bradbury and Joseph Goncalves. (Courtesy of Brittany Bernardini)
LEOMINSTER — Fifteen years in business is quite an accomplishment, and the owners of Bliss Massage & Wellness Center are celebrating just that.
Julia Capone, a longtime resident of the city, began her journey to health 15 years ago after experiencing her own health issues. She had suffered from muscle pain since she was 13 and began seeing a chiropractor at age 20.
“I had never even known or thought of massage as a form of therapy until one day when I was working in an office and someone suggested I book a massage with a visiting masseuse,” she recalls. “As soon as I booked her, I knew this was what I was meant to do. It was like an epiphany, and then everything just fell into place.”
Capone said she was “100 percent hooked” when she opened her first clinic in April 2009 while still working as an office worker. A year later, she decided to quit her job and pursue massage full time.
“At the time, there weren’t many massage options in Leominster, so I knew the skills I learned and honed would help a lot of people,” she says. “Fifteen years later, we’ve helped thousands of clients suffering from musculoskeletal pain.”
She said the business has grown steadily over the years, and in 2018 she purchased her own property and expanded to include other types of wellness services. Bliss Massage & Wellness Center is located on the first floor at 145 Central St., while Leominster Yoga Center and two certified mental health counselors are located on the second floor.
“We also do corporate spa days, where companies can use our large conference rooms for workshops and book spa services for their employees,” Capone says. “We’re really seeing companies start to recognise the benefits of regular massages and self-care for their employees.”
In addition to nine massage therapists offering a variety of massage types and techniques, including two large couples suites, Bliss also has two estheticians on staff who provide quality skin care services ranging from signature facials to anti-aging facials, CBD skin care, dermaplaning, lash lifts and tints, gua sha and lymphatic drainage facials.
You can also purchase a day pass to access the Full Zen Suite, which includes a custom eight-person steam room, two-person hot tub, Himalayan salt room, and foot bath room with massage chairs, all for just $100.
“Bliss is a special place,” Capone says. “We have hundreds of reviews from guests who tell us it’s the one thing they do for themselves that makes a difference in their wellbeing. We take great care to make sure our guests feel special from the moment they walk through our doors, to the plush robes and slippers to every touch at check-out.”
The businesswoman has deep ties to the Twin Cities: She grew up in Fitchburg, graduated from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, moved to Leominster in her early 20s and bought a home with her fiancé two years ago.
When asked what she likes about being her own boss, Capone said she enjoys running her own business and “seeing the growth and change that has happened over the last 15 years.”
“It’s very rewarding, for sure,” she says. “I love seeing clients 15 years later tell me that my treatment made them feel better when nothing else worked. That’s why I started this business, because I understand that feeling.”
As for challenges, she noted that the biggest challenge she and her dedicated team face is “the balance between employees and customers.”
“Our spa manager, Alex, is a wonderful person and a great asset to our business, but dealing with human nature is always difficult,” Capone noted.
She said the team would be “having a big get-together to celebrate our successes and strategize and plan for the future” to mark the anniversary, and that they would also be offering a special 20% discount for new clients throughout June.
Capone said she is extremely grateful to all the people who have supported her small business over the years.
“They’ve helped me as much as I’ve helped them,” she said of her mutually beneficial relationships with her customers. “Their continued support of me, Bliss, and our business has helped us get through so many challenges, including COVID, staff changes, and my own time off due to injury. They’ve always been there for us, and I’m so grateful for that.”
“I would also like to thank our staff for understanding our commitment at Bliss and showing us that they truly love working here,” Capone continued. “I try my best to recognize their hard work by giving them the best wages and place to work, taking advantage of the amenities we offer, and doing business with each other.”
Future plans and goals include completing renovations to her treatment rooms, a project that began five years ago when she moved into her current space.
“It’s starting to show signs of wear over the years, so it’s time for an update,” Capone said. “We’re always looking to incorporate other wellness businesses and welcome those just starting out or not sure where to start. We want to remain a one-stop destination for all things wellness and self-care. Thank you Bliss for 15 years!”
