Cobb asked to deny renewing 3 East Cobb health spa licenses

Cobb to consider six-month moratorium on new health spas

Following up a post from a couple of weeks back, on a measure to issue a moratorium on new health spa licenses in Cobb County:

On Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting are three appeal hearings for health spas in East Cobb. The Cobb Community Development Agency is asking the board to determine if “due cause” exists to deny renewing all three licenses.

That includes the Peace Spa at 4994 Lower Roswell Road, which was the subject of a recent investigation by that agency as well as Cobb Police, following a complaint that “stating the possibility of sexual activities being offered.”

Commissioners approved a six-month moratorium on June 25. In asking for the pause, Cobb Community Services Director Jessica Guinn said that “this is a serious concern for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public. Community Development and Public Safety have determined that the illicit health spa establishments are evading code and law enforcement; therefore, a temporary moratorium will provide a necessary opportunity to review the Cobb County Code to enhance regulations and strengthen protections to the public by suspending any health spa applications and further reviewing this regulatory process.”

Peace Spa had its health spa license suspended for two weeks following a Cobb License Review Board hearing in which the agency said the business didn’t have a state-licensed therapist or designated manager on the premises during business hours, which is required by law.

According to agenda items for Tuesday’s meeting, denial letters have been issued recently to two other spas, Asian Wellness Massage (3372 Canton Road, Suite 110) and V Massage (2800 Canton Road, Suite 1200), for similar violations.

According to agenda filings, Asian Wellness Massage was denied a renewal in April after a compliance check found that an employee on premises didn’t have a required health spa permit and the other was not listed as an employee of the business.

Agency officials said that during a police compliance check in late 2022, an investigator noticed that people were living on the premises, with a bed in a hallway, as well as hot plates, suitcases, non-work clothing and several pairs of shoes.

V Massage was denied a renewal of its health spa license in April, according to an agenda item. During a February compliance check, two employees were on-site, and neither could produce a require health spa permit. There also were no records of massage treatments provided, and the business did not post its operating hours, also violations of county code.

All three owners are appealing those denials, and commissioners are scheduled to conduct those hearings near the end of Tuesday’s meeting.

They also will conduct their first public hearings on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget and millage rate.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The full agenda can be found by clicking here.

You also can watch on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

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3 thoughts on “Cobb asked to deny renewing 3 East Cobb health spa licenses”

  1. Georgia licensed massage therapists that attempt to get a business license in unincorporated cobb county are required to obtain a regulated ‘health spa’ license. The problem with this is licensed massage therapists are regarded by Georgia law to be healthcare professionals. The health spa ordinance allows law enforcement and employees of the cobb business license department to demand a therapist turn over health and personal information of the people that come to them for massage therapy. I feel this is a direct violation of HIPAA guidelines.
    If a licensed massage therapist violates the code of ethics the proper channel is
    to file a complaint with the Georgia Board of Massage therapy via the Secretary of State
    office. The health spa license is overreaching and a sole practitioner-licensed massage therapist should be able to obtain a regular occupational business license in Cobb county which is not the case right now.

  2. Time for some big changes with our Board of Commissioners. I have seen Lisa Cupid leave early from two meetings now. If she doesn’t have time to attend the meetings, she needs to be replaced. She is single-handedly ruining this once great county. Is there a way to request a financial audit on her?

  3. Maybe just me, but I have felt or seen no difference in my personal (or anyone else i know) health whether these business licenses approved or denied. Seems like government meddling needlessly and more wasted tax dollars.

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