Eagan Massage Parlor Owner Under Investigation in Hopkins

The owner of an Eagan massage parlor cited for employing unlicensed massage therapists is in hot water again—but this time it's the Hopkins City Council that is taking him to task.

An attorney representing Julio Alaniz, the owner of Heavenly Asian Massage in Eagan, appeared before the Hopkins council last week for a license revocation hearing, after Hopkins authorities found unlicensed employees at Wonderland Asian Massage. The business is owned by Alaniz.

Hopkins city staff asked the council to revoke Alaniz' business license and the massage therapist license carried by his wife, Yang Yu. While council members shied away from formally revoking the licenses—which could prevent Alaniz or Yu from going into business in other communities—they strongly encouraged the pair to voluntarily cancel their Hopkins licenses and close up shop.

A.L. Brown, the attorney for Alaniz and Yu, did not dispute that they failed to follow the ordinance. Although Wonderland was only licensed for one masseuse, police found at least three masseuses there during a two-week period starting April 21. Two of the women did not have a city license.

Still, Brown said it was a simple mistake from people who were starting a new business. Wonderland just launched in February, he noted. He asked the Hopkins council to have mercy and impose some penalty short of revocation.

“This is a rookie mistake in operating a business,” Brown said.

Alaniz is scheduled to appear before the Eagan City Council in June for a similar administrative review. Eagan police conducted an undercover investigation of Alaniz' Eagan business earlier this spring and found several unlicensed masseuses working at the establishment.

There has been no evidence of any sexual activity at either the Hopkins or the Eagan establishment. Formal license revocation could keep Alaniz and Yu from getting a license elsewhere by registering as an “adverse action” when another city performs a background check.

At the Hopkins meeting, Alaniz and Yu wanted more time to think over whether they would willingly turn in their licenses. Brown noted that they have a significant financial investment in the business and would be stuck with the lease if forced to close.

“I just don’t want them to feel as though they have to make this decision in the hallway,” he said. “I mean, this is their business. They may not have operated it well, but they had high hopes for it.”

If they decide not to turn in their licenses, the Hopkins council will vote on revocation at its June 4 meeting. The members’ comments Tuesday indicated that they would vote in favor of revocation.

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