Manhattanites Make Time for Downtime

New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen is a neighborhood known for its up-and-coming restaurant scene, it collection of quirky shops, and, thanks to the debut of Downtime Massage + Skincare, a fabulous new spa. I recently attended the spa’s opening, and I must say, I was impressed.

For several years prior to the spa’s Oct. 1 debut, owner Greg Cartright and his small team of therapists  developed a loyal client base performing treatments in a tiny two-room apartment spa. But it soon became clear that the demand for services far exceeded the space, and it was time to expand. The new location features four inviting treatment room; a dedicated retail area chock-full of goodies from Aromatherapy Associates, SkinCeutical, Sundari, and more; and a team of talented therapists who perform massages, facials, peels, makeup applications, and body sugaring, an all-natural hair removal method for which Greg has garnered a loyal following.

A few days after the opening party, I returned to Downtime to test out a treatment for myself. After receiving a spectacular massage from Greg, who has trained with experts from around the globe, I’m happy to report that his drive to provide clients with the best-of-the-best has been achieved with gusto.

“At Downtime, we have a collective spirit of energy and enthusiasm for what we do,” he says. “We’re always learning and continue to apply this knowledge to all of our treatments. We’re perfectionists, so whatever it is we set out to do, we will only be happy if it is the best it can be.”

Mission, most certainly, accomplished!