Ben Zheng and his family have been trying to open a new massage parlor for months now. The process was halted after neighbors agreed they did not want a massage parlor at the corner of Kyrene and Warner in Tempe, about two miles from the address where Zheng and his family planned to open Massage Aces.
Matt Smith, a long-term resident of the Warner Ranch neighborhood and self-employed designer, gathered over 55 signatures from over 10 neighborhoods that agreed that they opposed a new massage parlor in the area.
Smith argued at the March 26 council meeting that a new massage parlor would not be beneficial for the area and that other businesses had poor reviews, making a poor reputation for the area. He originally took his request to the Development Review Commission and now the city council, where he argued that a massage parlor would not benefit the area.
“Massage establishments have an uncanny ability to present themselves in one way than what they represent in reality,” Smith said.
Smith referred to Criterion C of the reasons to file an appeal, which states that the establishment should contribute to the “deterioration of the neighborhood or to the downgrading of property values, which is in conflict with the goals, objectives or policies of the area.”
Zheng and his family applied for a use permit to open Massage Aces at 1761 E. Warner Road, on the corner of Warner and McClintock, to relocate their business for more space. The family currently owns Golden Reflexology across the street from the proposed address.
“When they file a use permit, what is represented on the permit is often not what they offer. One-star reviews will tell you that these places misrepresent what they do,” Smith said. “Consider what kind of Tempe you want to live in,” he said in his closing statement.
Many of the poor reviews of other massage places cite poor communication, rude service or unclean spaces.
Ryan Levesque, deputy community development director for the city, said Tempe Police have not received any complaints of misconduct, and there are no open investigations of any massage parlor in the area.
Zheng spoke on behalf of his family and shared that the business would be open to routine inspections and comply with all city regulations and requests.
“What Mr. Smith mentioned about the transparency of the windows does not apply here,” Zhang said with his interpreter during the meeting.
He also noted that the city has the right and the power to conduct inspections at any time and that the business would consent to a search at any time.
Smith denied an interview and did not share how he felt at the end of the night after the council unanimously denied his request.
“I didn’t realize that Golden Reflexology was owned by the same group and seeing that there has been no issues with the business owner or the establishment, I wouldn’t feel good about myself voting to deny someone the opportunity to do business in the city of Tempe,” Councilmember Randy Keating said.
Councilmember Nikki Amberg agreed.
“I don’t from a legal standpoint think I can sit here and say I am going to deny the ability to open up a massage parlor or any massage establishment,” Amberg said.
Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid moved to deny the appeal and approve the use permit but with the stipulations from the Development Review Commission that included transparent windows.
The motion passed unanimously and Massage Aces will move forward with construction in the following months. Zheng says they plan on opening before the end of 2026.
“We followed all the steps, all the rules, we know we do everything correctly, and I feel good about moving forward,” Zheng said after the vote.
To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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