Adelaide Street

The two massage parlours on Adeliade Street are thought of together in vertually everyone's minds. They are almost indistinguishable. The spa next to fire station, now called Luna Spa, did open in 1999 about five years ahead of the one to west now named Sunrise Spa. It was opened as "Orintal Cat Eyes" by Shanko in the fall of 1999. The National Post wrote about them together in 2010:

The ad in the weekly newspaper promises, “Attractive Girls, 18+.” The address, just west of Hooters at 302 Adelaide St. West, is a 19th-century brick home with a locked inner door, a doorbell and a video camera. A woman comes to the door and leads the way to a big airy room, inviting a visitor to sit on a massage table. A young woman of Asian descent comes in, dressed in a short red silk nightshirt, open at the top to reveal her cleavage.

Asked what services the parlour offers, she says, “First you pay me $40 for half an hour.” The other woman chimes in, with a wink, “She will take care of you.”

On Thursday, the National Post visited seven massage and spa businesses, whose licences range from holistic centre to body rub parlour.

A few patterns emerge. Every place has a locked door and a peep hole or a video camera. In every case, a woman comes to the door in a suggestive dress and high heels. In every case, the woman does not ask for a customer’s name or do any paperwork, but merely invites the visitor to sit on a massage table and take off his clothes. All but one establishment insists on cash -in most cases, $40, though some charge $25 for half an hour.

One spot at 266 Adelaide St. W., Luna Spa, registered as a holistic centre, has a sign on the massage room wall saying, “No sexual services available.” The hostess asks a reporter to undress, saying, “I get girl for you.” A young woman appears in a black dress. “You take clothes off. We use hot wax and oil. Full body.” The offer is declined.

Downtown Toronto remains a fascinating place.