November 14, 2025 • 20 mins
A great neighborhood spa isn’t built on fancy buzzwords—it’s built on skill, trust, and a calm space you can count on. We sit down with Susan, owner of Esteem Green Life Spa in downtown Closter, to share how she transformed years of Manhattan experience into a local wellness hub known for clean practices, fair pricing, and results you can feel. From Swedish and deep tissue to Chinese tuina and lymphatic drainage, Susan explains how to match the right massage to the problem you’re trying to solve, whether it’s nagging neck pain, stress headaches, or full-body burnout.
Curious about head spa therapy? Susan breaks down her water-circulation scalp treatment that combines gentle washing, steam, and focused scalp massage to ease migraines, calm the nervous system, and melt away screen-time stress. It’s not a salon shampoo; it’s an hour of deep, restorative care designed to reset your mind and body. We also talk about why she sold her Midtown spa after COVID, opened close to her Harrington Park home, and still consults in the city while keeping Closter as the heart of her work.
You’ll hear how memberships, packages, and seasonal promotions make weekly wellness realistic, why monthly staff training and strict cleanliness standards matter, and what truly sets a neighborhood spa apart. If you’re weighing a couples massage, exploring lymphatic drainage, or finally ready to try a head spa, this conversation will help you choose with confidence. Ready to relax smarter and closer to home? Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors discover the show.
Esteem Greenlife Spa
Susan Xu
(201) 367-1995
225 Closter Dock Rd, Closter, NJ 07624
esteemgreenlifespa.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Intro/Close (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Doug Drohan (00:05):
Here's your host, Doug Drohan.
Hey everyone, welcome toanother episode of the Good
Neighbor Podcast.
I am your host, Doug Dryhan,and the owner of the Bergen
Neighbors Media Group.
Today we are joined by SusanXu.
Susan is the owner of EsteemGreen Life Spa based in downtown
Closter, New Jersey.
Susan, welcome to the show.
(00:26):
Yeah, how are you?
Susan Xu (00:33):
Good, good.
Doug Drohan (00:34):
Good.
Susan Xu (00:34):
Thank you.
Doug Drohan (00:35):
So uh yeah, we were so you know, basically the the
the format of the show is totalk about uh your business, but
also your uh kind of journey asa business owner.
So before we started recording,you mentioned that prior to
opening Esteem Green Life Spa,you used to own a spa in
Manhattan.
Is that correct?
Susan Xu (00:55):
Yes.
Doug Drohan (00:56):
Where where was it in Manhattan?
Susan Xu (00:59):
Um in Midtown Um Second Avenue, 22nd Street.
Doug Drohan (01:05):
Oh, okay.
I used to live on uh 23rd, 26thStreet between 2nd and 3rd.
Yeah back in the 90s, I livedthere, so a while ago.
So you so how long did you havethat business?
Susan Xu (01:18):
Um in Manhattan?
Doug Drohan (01:20):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (01:22):
No, like um seven, eight years.
Doug Drohan (01:24):
Oh yeah, okay.
And then and then why why moveto New Jersey?
Like what was do you still ownthe business in Manhattan or you
closed that and then opened upthe new one in Cloister?
Susan Xu (01:35):
Uh yeah, actually I sold the business and uh I
opened um new one in New Jerseybecause after COVID 19 is um you
know it's all the businessdifficult and too far away from
you know, too far away thedistance for driving every day.
(01:56):
Uh because I live in HarringtonPark around 10 years.
Doug Drohan (02:02):
Okay.
Susan Xu (02:02):
So back and forth every day.
Doug Drohan (02:05):
Yeah, I I live in Harrington Park as well, and I
used to commute into Manhattanevery day by bus.
I didn't drive, and I worked inin Times Square.
So um, yeah, it was wasn't uhit wasn't fun.
So, but now you now you open upa uh uh spa about a mile or two
(02:25):
from your home, which is nice.
Susan Xu (02:26):
Yeah, just a few minutes.
Doug Drohan (02:28):
Yeah, that's great.
So, what is what kind of spa isit?
Because you know, the word spacan mean a lot of things, right?
Susan Xu (02:34):
I mean, some people think like this spa uh we do um
like a um facial massage, thehead spa.
Um you know, um now it's verypopular for the um with the
water, water circulation, thehead treatment.
Doug Drohan (02:54):
Oh, really?
So what is that exactly?
Because I'm I'm not familiarwith that.
How does that work?
Susan Xu (02:59):
Um it's a like uh um massage your head and wash um
and steam.
Doug Drohan (03:07):
Really?
Susan Xu (03:08):
Yeah.
Yes, hair washed, yes.
It's actually can help people,you know.
You have a migraine, you uh ifyou feel yeah, too much, uh, a
lot of stress.
So it's good for people, yeah.
Doug Drohan (03:24):
So you're you're sitting back in a chair like
when you go get your hair washedat a salon, and then while
you're uh yeah, it's different,it's different kind.
Susan Xu (03:37):
We do the water circulation um scalp therapy,
like we the customer willlighter on the table and uh you
know more relaxing.
Doug Drohan (03:48):
Okay, okay.
That's interesting.
That's nice.
Yeah, and how long is thattreatment?
Susan Xu (03:54):
Uh there's a different, like uh um basically
it's one hour.
Doug Drohan (03:58):
Oh wow.
Okay.
Yeah.
So it's not water, it's notwaterboarding uh torture
treatment.
You you have you're sittingback and the water is just
flowing over your head andyou're getting small.
Nice, nice.
Susan Xu (04:12):
So you can come to try next time.
Doug Drohan (04:14):
Yeah, yeah.
You know, I've had thetraditional massages, right?
I've had um, you know, I've haduh, you know, traditional
massage and um whether it'sshiatsu or Swedish or whatever,
sports massage, but I've neverhad my, you know, the only time
I've had a little massage iswhen I'm getting my hair washed
and somebody might be, you know,rubbing my temples a bit, but
(04:35):
uh I could definitely see theyou know the therapeutic value
of that.
That that sounds really nice.
So you've always you've soyou've been in cloister for
three years now.
Susan Xu (04:46):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (04:48):
So if I drive into downtown cloister, you are on
coming from Harrington Park,you're on the left-hand side on
Cloister Dock Road near theclock, which I sometimes I have
as my background.
If you go to my website, you'llsee almost can see where your
where your uh spa is, because Ihave a picture of of the clock
and then that where the streethas the triangle right there.
Susan Xu (05:08):
But really, yeah.
Doug Drohan (05:10):
But the uh, you know, to be honest, there's a
lot of spas, right?
And especially in cloister,there's others.
There's uh as you get down moretowards um, you know, like uh
Leonia, Palisades Park, andthose areas, there's a lot of
spas.
Susan Xu (05:26):
Yes.
Doug Drohan (05:27):
How are you guys?
How are you different?
Like, why should I, you know,aside from just being a mile
away, like what's differentabout the experience at your spa
that I might get that I may notget somewhere else?
Susan Xu (05:38):
Yeah, we try to, you know, um, yeah, I know a lot of
spa, but um it's hard to say uhuh other spa, but we try to do
the um make people feel umbetter.
So we we do everything, uh weum clean everything and uh um we
(06:02):
change everything after thetreatment um done and so um and
I I training the um massagetherapy and uh um beauty channel
um um every each month Itraining them.
Doug Drohan (06:21):
Okay, okay.
Yeah nice, nice.
So you have uh how how big'syour staff?
Susan Xu (06:26):
You have a large staff or no, I actually um in the
like small store.
We only have uh um three orfour okay therapists employee,
yeah.
Doug Drohan (06:40):
Okay, so let's go back.
Um obviously you weren't uh youweren't born in New Jersey,
right?
You don't have a New Jerseyaccent.
So where where were you bornand and when did you come here?
Susan Xu (06:51):
Um I born in China.
Doug Drohan (06:54):
In China, okay.
Susan Xu (06:55):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (06:55):
What what part of China?
Susan Xu (06:57):
Um North North China.
Doug Drohan (07:00):
Okay, okay.
And when did you immigrate tothe uh to the US?
Susan Xu (07:05):
To the US, just uh um uh because I have uh uh one best
friend here.
Yeah, so um uh I was inMalaysia um do the same business
like uh 15 years.
Oh wow.
So yeah, she she says you maycome to US and you're like here.
Doug Drohan (07:26):
Oh yeah, okay.
Susan Xu (07:27):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (07:28):
How many years ago was that?
Susan Xu (07:30):
Um I'm here like 15 years.
Doug Drohan (07:34):
Okay.
Did you live in New York Cityfirst before you moved to
Harrington Park?
Susan Xu (07:38):
Yeah, I'm in um New York City first.
Doug Drohan (07:41):
Uh huh, yeah.
Susan Xu (07:42):
And after I uh bought a house, I moved to um New
Jersey.
Doug Drohan (07:48):
Yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (07:49):
Yeah, and by the way, I just uh uh opened another new
um spa in Manhattan, Soho.
Doug Drohan (07:55):
Oh really?
Oh wow, where about where inManhattan?
Susan Xu (07:58):
Yeah, in Manhattan, Soho.
Doug Drohan (08:00):
Oh nice, okay.
Yeah, just a couple months why,but you're not going there
every day, right?
Susan Xu (08:07):
Uh yeah.
I I'm not I'm not going everyday.
It's just maybe a couple timesa week.
Doug Drohan (08:15):
Okay, okay.
Um, and and why did you dothat?
Why open another business inManhattan?
Susan Xu (08:21):
Um, actually the the spa is um usually my um my
friend is my friend's spa, butshe yeah, she has uh a lot of
spa.
She has she have have like asix, seven.
Wow.
And um, yeah.
And she has uh two uh kids needto take care.
Intro/Close (08:42):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (08:42):
She asked me, oh do you want to take um take over
the business?
Intro/Close (08:46):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (08:47):
Um yeah, it's a good place, and so I say okay.
Doug Drohan (08:51):
Yeah, okay, okay.
Wow, that and is it similartypes of services that you offer
in in New Jersey?
Susan Xu (08:58):
Uh it's um a little bit different.
Um in Manhattan, uh just inMahattan store, we have um uh
more service, um like more uhmultiple services like uh air
large extension and oh okay.
Doug Drohan (09:13):
Yeah.
So more aesthetics, aestheticstype of of things.
Susan Xu (09:17):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (09:18):
More beauty, I guess you could say, yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (09:20):
Yeah, I brought something, you know.
Doug Drohan (09:23):
Right, right, okay, okay.
Do you have plans on on doingthat in in your closer location
or is it uh you're happy withwhat you offer in New Jersey
that it will always be differentthan what you have in in
Manhattan?
Susan Xu (09:37):
Yeah, um, I mean, you know, maybe do uh more service
in New Jersey too.
Doug Drohan (09:43):
Okay.
unknown (09:43):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (09:44):
And who's like your typical customer that comes
through your door in New Jersey?
Susan Xu (09:48):
And is it uh is it female, is it male, is it kind
of even uh yeah, the New Jerseycustomer um like um male,
female, like a half half, and uhwe have a lot of couples, and
uh most of like uh 90 99customer uh customers from local
(10:12):
around here.
Doug Drohan (10:13):
Yeah, sure, sure.
And they're coming for umobviously if you you know when I
yeah, they come like uh once aweek.
Oh wow for massage orsomething, yeah.
Susan Xu (10:23):
For massage once twice um week, yeah.
It's good for your uh you knowrelaxed attention.
Doug Drohan (10:30):
Yeah, sure, sure.
I mean, like for me, I'm alwaysover.
Susan Xu (10:34):
People have a lot uh stress, yeah.
Doug Drohan (10:37):
Neck is tight, and yeah, yeah.
So do people can they join as amonthly membership or or do you
just pay as you go?
Susan Xu (10:47):
They can do either.
We have a monthly, yeah,member, and um yeah, if you join
member, much cheaper the price.
Doug Drohan (10:55):
So for somebody who's coming once a week, it
makes sense to be a to be amember, yeah.
Susan Xu (11:00):
Yeah, they uh they can buy a package if they want uh
you know save money.
Doug Drohan (11:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure.
So what what um so when youcame to America, did you always
know you wanted to own abusiness?
Was that your goal?
Intro/Close (11:14):
Yes.
Doug Drohan (11:15):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
And so what I mean, I knowobviously there's big
differences between China and uhand the US, and especially, you
know, New York City is not theUS, right?
Like where we live, even inBergen County, uh in you know
the area that we live, there's alot of people from New York
City or who work in New YorkCity.
(11:37):
So we have a different, youknow, we have a different
culture than the rest ofAmerica.
Um, but you know, there's a lotof Chinese immigrants in in
this area, certainlytrailblazed, you know,
generations ago into New YorkCity.
Um, what was the adjustment foryou and and you know, and if
you have a family, what what iswhat has that been like in the
(11:58):
15 years that you've been here?
Was it a big adjustment comingfrom China?
And certainly the you know, thepolitical system's different,
the economic system's different.
Uh, what was the adjustmentlike?
Susan Xu (12:11):
Um actually, um I was in Malaysia 15 years, so um a
long time uh like uh 30 years.
I'm uh you know, I'm not beenstaying in China.
Intro/Close (12:24):
So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (12:26):
Um a lot of things um I'm not sure.
Um but I like US um here.
I can say um New York City andNew Jersey is uh the business um
a lot different.
Doug Drohan (12:48):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (12:49):
Yeah.
Um we um you know face tocustomer is um totally
different.
In New York City, um mostpeople they um you know they are
so busy.
Doug Drohan (13:02):
Yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (13:03):
Yeah.
Um they come, they just uh theythey come just to massage and
uh and they done the treatment,they they left.
And they you know, we're theytalk very little, but in New
Jersey, the customer morefriendly way they're yeah, yeah.
Doug Drohan (13:23):
Yeah, I mean when I when I worked in Manhattan, if
I went for massage, it wasnormally during my lunch hours,
so you know you don't have a lotof time.
You're going to have lunch andthen you gotta get back to work.
So it's uh I could see that,yeah.
Susan Xu (13:37):
Yeah, why I come here um because the Malaysia, you
know, um before I come to US andMalaysia, the economy is you
know down a lot, it's no good.
So that's why I changed Ichanged the country.
Doug Drohan (13:53):
Okay.
Yeah, I've never I've neverbeen to Malaysia, but I mean you
spent 15 years there, so uhyeah, I like the weather and I
like I like uh Malaysia is youknow and the food, the um and
the place is it's so nice.
Susan Xu (14:10):
You like uh here it can be very seem like uh Los
Angel um Los Angeles.
Doug Drohan (14:15):
Oh yeah, okay.
Not too humid in the summer.
Uh here it can be very, veryhot and humid.
Susan Xu (14:22):
Yeah, it's yeah, yeah.
They um it's but you if you'reliving there uh for a while, you
feel okay.
Not yeah, not where not feel sohot.
Doug Drohan (14:33):
Kind of like kind of like here in the winter, you
know, you get used to thewinters here, and especially
they're not as bad as they usedto be.
Susan Xu (14:39):
So yeah, I if it's too too cold in New Jersey.
Doug Drohan (14:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I know.
I mean, it must have been ashock for you coming from
Malaysia, but uh maybe nineyears, ten years later, you're
you're kind of used to it.
Plus, it's it's not as bad,it's not as cold as it used to
be, you know.
Uh, you know, we don't get asmuch snow as we used to.
But so why don't you um youknow where what's the address of
(15:04):
of the spa?
And you know, how do people uhyou know call?
Do they call?
Do they drop in to make anappointment?
How's the what's the best wayto to um make an appointment?
Susan Xu (15:15):
Um the address is 225 closer docker route.
Um actually um customer canmake appointment by phone call
or online.
Yeah, we have a website, yeah,they can make an appointment
online.
Doug Drohan (15:31):
And what's the website?
It's a steam green life spa.
Susan Xu (15:34):
Yeah, Steam GreenLifespa Nj.com.
Oh no, uh SteamGreenLifespa.com, yeah.
Doug Drohan (15:44):
Yeah, okay.
Susan Xu (15:45):
And in there you can find out all the different uh
yeah, all the service, all theyeah, all the service uh we uh
and the price online.
Doug Drohan (15:55):
Right, right.
And you know, I have to say,like your prices are very uh
reasonable.
You know, there's not um you'renot spending like $300 for
massage or anything like that.
So very reasonable.
Um, and then so let's if youwon't mind, let can we go
through some of the servicesthat you do offer?
So you have different forms,we'll say relaxation services.
(16:18):
So what are they?
Susan Xu (16:20):
Um yeah, um we um you mean what the service we do?
Doug Drohan (16:27):
Yeah, so you know, there's you mentioned the the
head massage, there's thenormal, I guess, like uh shiatsu
or full body massage.
Like what are the differenttypes of treatments that you
offer?
Susan Xu (16:38):
Oh yeah, uh we do full body massage.
Um it's it's different kinds,like relaxing, or some um some
clients that have uh uh musclepain, that's a different kind of
massage.
So it's regular massage whichwe charge like six sixty dollars
(16:58):
per hour.
Um we also do yeah for most ofthe um ladies' client, we do
lympatic drainage massage.
Um like um it's good for um toput the detoxing away, good for
(17:19):
um um health.
So yeah, better for ladies andum we do um head circulation
scalp trappy.
Um we have offer for like 20%right now for Thanksgiving.
Doug Drohan (17:37):
Ah and I was gonna say, like you do couples
massages, and it's probably yes,we do couples massage, yes.
Nice, and you're getting uhsince we're getting into the
holiday season, people can buygift cards.
Susan Xu (17:49):
Yes, we yeah, we sell a gift card and a lot of
promotion, they can checkonline.
Doug Drohan (17:57):
Okay, oh that's great.
So I uh I see on Instagram,which you know, your esteemed
Green Live Spawn, Instagram,yeah, and um the esteemed
signature massages is Swedish,deep tissue, hot stone.
What is Chinese uh twina?
Susan Xu (18:13):
Actually, Chinese tuna just uh have people, you know,
some um um the client they haveuh pain, the like muscle pain.
Okay, so we do tuna is um justlike a pressure, but no oil.
Doug Drohan (18:34):
Okay, okay, nice.
So um I'm gonna just repeatyour you're on 225 Closter Dock
Road in Closter, which is rightwhere um when you're driving
into town from Harrington Park,it is where kind of like a
triangle where the clock is.
You come in and it's just overon the left-hand side, and uh
(18:54):
the phone number is201-367-1995.
Um yeah, no, this was great.
You know, I I so you know, I'veI've been a um a client or
customer, and it was a greatmassage, and I recommend it.
Susan Xu (19:10):
Thank you for your support.
Doug Drohan (19:11):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So uh, yeah, Susan, is thereanything else you you wanted to
um you know leave us with uh tolet people know or uh not to put
you in the spot.
Susan Xu (19:23):
So uh yeah, in the future we'll do uh more, you
know, facial uh right now wehave a facial service too.
Yeah, we have a regularofficial, we have uh um some
kind of different official, butum yeah, in the future we'll do
more like uh at large something.
Doug Drohan (19:46):
Okay, okay, that's great.
Well, thank you so much forjoining us today.
And um, you know, it was reallyvery interesting.
I I love the the stories ofpeople that come over as
entrepreneurs and you knowreally try to live out that that
dream, I guess we can call itthe American dream, but I think
everybody, everybody, you know,in so many different countries,
(20:06):
but especially here, you know,pursue that that ability to
thank you.
Thank you.
All right, you and I, you andI'll be right back.
We're just gonna have uh Chuckjust say a few parting words.
Susan Xu (20:17):
Okay, thank you.
Doug Drohan (20:18):
Thank you.
Intro/Close (20:19):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpbergen.com.
That's gnpbergen.com or call201 298 25.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Doug Drohan (00:05):
Here's your host, Doug Drohan.
Hey everyone, welcome toanother episode of the Good
Neighbor Podcast.
I am your host, Doug Dryhan,and the owner of the Bergen
Neighbors Media Group.
Today we are joined by SusanXu.
Susan is the owner of EsteemGreen Life Spa based in downtown
Closter, New Jersey.
Susan, welcome to the show.
(00:26):
Yeah, how are you?
Susan Xu (00:33):
Good, good.
Doug Drohan (00:34):
Good.
Susan Xu (00:34):
Thank you.
Doug Drohan (00:35):
So uh yeah, we were so you know, basically the the
the format of the show is totalk about uh your business, but
also your uh kind of journey asa business owner.
So before we started recording,you mentioned that prior to
opening Esteem Green Life Spa,you used to own a spa in
Manhattan.
Is that correct?
Susan Xu (00:55):
Yes.
Doug Drohan (00:56):
Where where was it in Manhattan?
Susan Xu (00:59):
Um in Midtown Um Second Avenue, 22nd Street.
Doug Drohan (01:05):
Oh, okay.
I used to live on uh 23rd, 26thStreet between 2nd and 3rd.
Yeah back in the 90s, I livedthere, so a while ago.
So you so how long did you havethat business?
Susan Xu (01:18):
Um in Manhattan?
Doug Drohan (01:20):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (01:22):
No, like um seven, eight years.
Doug Drohan (01:24):
Oh yeah, okay.
And then and then why why moveto New Jersey?
Like what was do you still ownthe business in Manhattan or you
closed that and then opened upthe new one in Cloister?
Susan Xu (01:35):
Uh yeah, actually I sold the business and uh I
opened um new one in New Jerseybecause after COVID 19 is um you
know it's all the businessdifficult and too far away from
you know, too far away thedistance for driving every day.
(01:56):
Uh because I live in HarringtonPark around 10 years.
Doug Drohan (02:02):
Okay.
Susan Xu (02:02):
So back and forth every day.
Doug Drohan (02:05):
Yeah, I I live in Harrington Park as well, and I
used to commute into Manhattanevery day by bus.
I didn't drive, and I worked inin Times Square.
So um, yeah, it was wasn't uhit wasn't fun.
So, but now you now you open upa uh uh spa about a mile or two
(02:25):
from your home, which is nice.
Susan Xu (02:26):
Yeah, just a few minutes.
Doug Drohan (02:28):
Yeah, that's great.
So, what is what kind of spa isit?
Because you know, the word spacan mean a lot of things, right?
Susan Xu (02:34):
I mean, some people think like this spa uh we do um
like a um facial massage, thehead spa.
Um you know, um now it's verypopular for the um with the
water, water circulation, thehead treatment.
Doug Drohan (02:54):
Oh, really?
So what is that exactly?
Because I'm I'm not familiarwith that.
How does that work?
Susan Xu (02:59):
Um it's a like uh um massage your head and wash um
and steam.
Doug Drohan (03:07):
Really?
Susan Xu (03:08):
Yeah.
Yes, hair washed, yes.
It's actually can help people,you know.
You have a migraine, you uh ifyou feel yeah, too much, uh, a
lot of stress.
So it's good for people, yeah.
Doug Drohan (03:24):
So you're you're sitting back in a chair like
when you go get your hair washedat a salon, and then while
you're uh yeah, it's different,it's different kind.
Susan Xu (03:37):
We do the water circulation um scalp therapy,
like we the customer willlighter on the table and uh you
know more relaxing.
Doug Drohan (03:48):
Okay, okay.
That's interesting.
That's nice.
Yeah, and how long is thattreatment?
Susan Xu (03:54):
Uh there's a different, like uh um basically
it's one hour.
Doug Drohan (03:58):
Oh wow.
Okay.
Yeah.
So it's not water, it's notwaterboarding uh torture
treatment.
You you have you're sittingback and the water is just
flowing over your head andyou're getting small.
Nice, nice.
Susan Xu (04:12):
So you can come to try next time.
Doug Drohan (04:14):
Yeah, yeah.
You know, I've had thetraditional massages, right?
I've had um, you know, I've haduh, you know, traditional
massage and um whether it'sshiatsu or Swedish or whatever,
sports massage, but I've neverhad my, you know, the only time
I've had a little massage iswhen I'm getting my hair washed
and somebody might be, you know,rubbing my temples a bit, but
(04:35):
uh I could definitely see theyou know the therapeutic value
of that.
That that sounds really nice.
So you've always you've soyou've been in cloister for
three years now.
Susan Xu (04:46):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (04:48):
So if I drive into downtown cloister, you are on
coming from Harrington Park,you're on the left-hand side on
Cloister Dock Road near theclock, which I sometimes I have
as my background.
If you go to my website, you'llsee almost can see where your
where your uh spa is, because Ihave a picture of of the clock
and then that where the streethas the triangle right there.
Susan Xu (05:08):
But really, yeah.
Doug Drohan (05:10):
But the uh, you know, to be honest, there's a
lot of spas, right?
And especially in cloister,there's others.
There's uh as you get down moretowards um, you know, like uh
Leonia, Palisades Park, andthose areas, there's a lot of
spas.
Susan Xu (05:26):
Yes.
Doug Drohan (05:27):
How are you guys?
How are you different?
Like, why should I, you know,aside from just being a mile
away, like what's differentabout the experience at your spa
that I might get that I may notget somewhere else?
Susan Xu (05:38):
Yeah, we try to, you know, um, yeah, I know a lot of
spa, but um it's hard to say uhuh other spa, but we try to do
the um make people feel umbetter.
So we we do everything, uh weum clean everything and uh um we
(06:02):
change everything after thetreatment um done and so um and
I I training the um massagetherapy and uh um beauty channel
um um every each month Itraining them.
Doug Drohan (06:21):
Okay, okay.
Yeah nice, nice.
So you have uh how how big'syour staff?
Susan Xu (06:26):
You have a large staff or no, I actually um in the
like small store.
We only have uh um three orfour okay therapists employee,
yeah.
Doug Drohan (06:40):
Okay, so let's go back.
Um obviously you weren't uh youweren't born in New Jersey,
right?
You don't have a New Jerseyaccent.
So where where were you bornand and when did you come here?
Susan Xu (06:51):
Um I born in China.
Doug Drohan (06:54):
In China, okay.
Susan Xu (06:55):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (06:55):
What what part of China?
Susan Xu (06:57):
Um North North China.
Doug Drohan (07:00):
Okay, okay.
And when did you immigrate tothe uh to the US?
Susan Xu (07:05):
To the US, just uh um uh because I have uh uh one best
friend here.
Yeah, so um uh I was inMalaysia um do the same business
like uh 15 years.
Oh wow.
So yeah, she she says you maycome to US and you're like here.
Doug Drohan (07:26):
Oh yeah, okay.
Susan Xu (07:27):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (07:28):
How many years ago was that?
Susan Xu (07:30):
Um I'm here like 15 years.
Doug Drohan (07:34):
Okay.
Did you live in New York Cityfirst before you moved to
Harrington Park?
Susan Xu (07:38):
Yeah, I'm in um New York City first.
Doug Drohan (07:41):
Uh huh, yeah.
Susan Xu (07:42):
And after I uh bought a house, I moved to um New
Jersey.
Doug Drohan (07:48):
Yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (07:49):
Yeah, and by the way, I just uh uh opened another new
um spa in Manhattan, Soho.
Doug Drohan (07:55):
Oh really?
Oh wow, where about where inManhattan?
Susan Xu (07:58):
Yeah, in Manhattan, Soho.
Doug Drohan (08:00):
Oh nice, okay.
Yeah, just a couple months why,but you're not going there
every day, right?
Susan Xu (08:07):
Uh yeah.
I I'm not I'm not going everyday.
It's just maybe a couple timesa week.
Doug Drohan (08:15):
Okay, okay.
Um, and and why did you dothat?
Why open another business inManhattan?
Susan Xu (08:21):
Um, actually the the spa is um usually my um my
friend is my friend's spa, butshe yeah, she has uh a lot of
spa.
She has she have have like asix, seven.
Wow.
And um, yeah.
And she has uh two uh kids needto take care.
Intro/Close (08:42):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (08:42):
She asked me, oh do you want to take um take over
the business?
Intro/Close (08:46):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (08:47):
Um yeah, it's a good place, and so I say okay.
Doug Drohan (08:51):
Yeah, okay, okay.
Wow, that and is it similartypes of services that you offer
in in New Jersey?
Susan Xu (08:58):
Uh it's um a little bit different.
Um in Manhattan, uh just inMahattan store, we have um uh
more service, um like more uhmultiple services like uh air
large extension and oh okay.
Doug Drohan (09:13):
Yeah.
So more aesthetics, aestheticstype of of things.
Susan Xu (09:17):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (09:18):
More beauty, I guess you could say, yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (09:20):
Yeah, I brought something, you know.
Doug Drohan (09:23):
Right, right, okay, okay.
Do you have plans on on doingthat in in your closer location
or is it uh you're happy withwhat you offer in New Jersey
that it will always be differentthan what you have in in
Manhattan?
Susan Xu (09:37):
Yeah, um, I mean, you know, maybe do uh more service
in New Jersey too.
Doug Drohan (09:43):
Okay.
unknown (09:43):
Yeah.
Doug Drohan (09:44):
And who's like your typical customer that comes
through your door in New Jersey?
Susan Xu (09:48):
And is it uh is it female, is it male, is it kind
of even uh yeah, the New Jerseycustomer um like um male,
female, like a half half, and uhwe have a lot of couples, and
uh most of like uh 90 99customer uh customers from local
(10:12):
around here.
Doug Drohan (10:13):
Yeah, sure, sure.
And they're coming for umobviously if you you know when I
yeah, they come like uh once aweek.
Oh wow for massage orsomething, yeah.
Susan Xu (10:23):
For massage once twice um week, yeah.
It's good for your uh you knowrelaxed attention.
Doug Drohan (10:30):
Yeah, sure, sure.
I mean, like for me, I'm alwaysover.
Susan Xu (10:34):
People have a lot uh stress, yeah.
Doug Drohan (10:37):
Neck is tight, and yeah, yeah.
So do people can they join as amonthly membership or or do you
just pay as you go?
Susan Xu (10:47):
They can do either.
We have a monthly, yeah,member, and um yeah, if you join
member, much cheaper the price.
Doug Drohan (10:55):
So for somebody who's coming once a week, it
makes sense to be a to be amember, yeah.
Susan Xu (11:00):
Yeah, they uh they can buy a package if they want uh
you know save money.
Doug Drohan (11:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure.
So what what um so when youcame to America, did you always
know you wanted to own abusiness?
Was that your goal?
Intro/Close (11:14):
Yes.
Doug Drohan (11:15):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
And so what I mean, I knowobviously there's big
differences between China and uhand the US, and especially, you
know, New York City is not theUS, right?
Like where we live, even inBergen County, uh in you know
the area that we live, there's alot of people from New York
City or who work in New YorkCity.
(11:37):
So we have a different, youknow, we have a different
culture than the rest ofAmerica.
Um, but you know, there's a lotof Chinese immigrants in in
this area, certainlytrailblazed, you know,
generations ago into New YorkCity.
Um, what was the adjustment foryou and and you know, and if
you have a family, what what iswhat has that been like in the
(11:58):
15 years that you've been here?
Was it a big adjustment comingfrom China?
And certainly the you know, thepolitical system's different,
the economic system's different.
Uh, what was the adjustmentlike?
Susan Xu (12:11):
Um actually, um I was in Malaysia 15 years, so um a
long time uh like uh 30 years.
I'm uh you know, I'm not beenstaying in China.
Intro/Close (12:24):
So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (12:26):
Um a lot of things um I'm not sure.
Um but I like US um here.
I can say um New York City andNew Jersey is uh the business um
a lot different.
Doug Drohan (12:48):
Yeah.
Susan Xu (12:49):
Yeah.
Um we um you know face tocustomer is um totally
different.
In New York City, um mostpeople they um you know they are
so busy.
Doug Drohan (13:02):
Yeah, yeah.
Susan Xu (13:03):
Yeah.
Um they come, they just uh theythey come just to massage and
uh and they done the treatment,they they left.
And they you know, we're theytalk very little, but in New
Jersey, the customer morefriendly way they're yeah, yeah.
Doug Drohan (13:23):
Yeah, I mean when I when I worked in Manhattan, if
I went for massage, it wasnormally during my lunch hours,
so you know you don't have a lotof time.
You're going to have lunch andthen you gotta get back to work.
So it's uh I could see that,yeah.
Susan Xu (13:37):
Yeah, why I come here um because the Malaysia, you
know, um before I come to US andMalaysia, the economy is you
know down a lot, it's no good.
So that's why I changed Ichanged the country.
Doug Drohan (13:53):
Okay.
Yeah, I've never I've neverbeen to Malaysia, but I mean you
spent 15 years there, so uhyeah, I like the weather and I
like I like uh Malaysia is youknow and the food, the um and
the place is it's so nice.
Susan Xu (14:10):
You like uh here it can be very seem like uh Los
Angel um Los Angeles.
Doug Drohan (14:15):
Oh yeah, okay.
Not too humid in the summer.
Uh here it can be very, veryhot and humid.
Susan Xu (14:22):
Yeah, it's yeah, yeah.
They um it's but you if you'reliving there uh for a while, you
feel okay.
Not yeah, not where not feel sohot.
Doug Drohan (14:33):
Kind of like kind of like here in the winter, you
know, you get used to thewinters here, and especially
they're not as bad as they usedto be.
Susan Xu (14:39):
So yeah, I if it's too too cold in New Jersey.
Doug Drohan (14:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I know.
I mean, it must have been ashock for you coming from
Malaysia, but uh maybe nineyears, ten years later, you're
you're kind of used to it.
Plus, it's it's not as bad,it's not as cold as it used to
be, you know.
Uh, you know, we don't get asmuch snow as we used to.
But so why don't you um youknow where what's the address of
(15:04):
of the spa?
And you know, how do people uhyou know call?
Do they call?
Do they drop in to make anappointment?
How's the what's the best wayto to um make an appointment?
Susan Xu (15:15):
Um the address is 225 closer docker route.
Um actually um customer canmake appointment by phone call
or online.
Yeah, we have a website, yeah,they can make an appointment
online.
Doug Drohan (15:31):
And what's the website?
It's a steam green life spa.
Susan Xu (15:34):
Yeah, Steam GreenLifespa Nj.com.
Oh no, uh SteamGreenLifespa.com, yeah.
Doug Drohan (15:44):
Yeah, okay.
Susan Xu (15:45):
And in there you can find out all the different uh
yeah, all the service, all theyeah, all the service uh we uh
and the price online.
Doug Drohan (15:55):
Right, right.
And you know, I have to say,like your prices are very uh
reasonable.
You know, there's not um you'renot spending like $300 for
massage or anything like that.
So very reasonable.
Um, and then so let's if youwon't mind, let can we go
through some of the servicesthat you do offer?
So you have different forms,we'll say relaxation services.
(16:18):
So what are they?
Susan Xu (16:20):
Um yeah, um we um you mean what the service we do?
Doug Drohan (16:27):
Yeah, so you know, there's you mentioned the the
head massage, there's thenormal, I guess, like uh shiatsu
or full body massage.
Like what are the differenttypes of treatments that you
offer?
Susan Xu (16:38):
Oh yeah, uh we do full body massage.
Um it's it's different kinds,like relaxing, or some um some
clients that have uh uh musclepain, that's a different kind of
massage.
So it's regular massage whichwe charge like six sixty dollars
(16:58):
per hour.
Um we also do yeah for most ofthe um ladies' client, we do
lympatic drainage massage.
Um like um it's good for um toput the detoxing away, good for
(17:19):
um um health.
So yeah, better for ladies andum we do um head circulation
scalp trappy.
Um we have offer for like 20%right now for Thanksgiving.
Doug Drohan (17:37):
Ah and I was gonna say, like you do couples
massages, and it's probably yes,we do couples massage, yes.
Nice, and you're getting uhsince we're getting into the
holiday season, people can buygift cards.
Susan Xu (17:49):
Yes, we yeah, we sell a gift card and a lot of
promotion, they can checkonline.
Doug Drohan (17:57):
Okay, oh that's great.
So I uh I see on Instagram,which you know, your esteemed
Green Live Spawn, Instagram,yeah, and um the esteemed
signature massages is Swedish,deep tissue, hot stone.
What is Chinese uh twina?
Susan Xu (18:13):
Actually, Chinese tuna just uh have people, you know,
some um um the client they haveuh pain, the like muscle pain.
Okay, so we do tuna is um justlike a pressure, but no oil.
Doug Drohan (18:34):
Okay, okay, nice.
So um I'm gonna just repeatyour you're on 225 Closter Dock
Road in Closter, which is rightwhere um when you're driving
into town from Harrington Park,it is where kind of like a
triangle where the clock is.
You come in and it's just overon the left-hand side, and uh
(18:54):
the phone number is201-367-1995.
Um yeah, no, this was great.
You know, I I so you know, I'veI've been a um a client or
customer, and it was a greatmassage, and I recommend it.
Susan Xu (19:10):
Thank you for your support.
Doug Drohan (19:11):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So uh, yeah, Susan, is thereanything else you you wanted to
um you know leave us with uh tolet people know or uh not to put
you in the spot.
Susan Xu (19:23):
So uh yeah, in the future we'll do uh more, you
know, facial uh right now wehave a facial service too.
Yeah, we have a regularofficial, we have uh um some
kind of different official, butum yeah, in the future we'll do
more like uh at large something.
Doug Drohan (19:46):
Okay, okay, that's great.
Well, thank you so much forjoining us today.
And um, you know, it was reallyvery interesting.
I I love the the stories ofpeople that come over as
entrepreneurs and you knowreally try to live out that that
dream, I guess we can call itthe American dream, but I think
everybody, everybody, you know,in so many different countries,
(20:06):
but especially here, you know,pursue that that ability to
thank you.
Thank you.
All right, you and I, you andI'll be right back.
We're just gonna have uh Chuckjust say a few parting words.
Susan Xu (20:17):
Okay, thank you.
Doug Drohan (20:18):
Thank you.
Intro/Close (20:19):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpbergen.com.
That's gnpbergen.com or call201 298 25.
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