Free massages available during grand opening for new business in downtown Flint - MLive.com

[Nick Taylor | [email protected]]

FLINT, MI – A new massage studio located by the Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint will hold its grand opening this week.

81Ohm Massage & Co., located at 140 E. Second St., Suite 100, will hold its grand opening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10.

The studio’s space was previously occupied by SHIFT, a clothing boutique store, which has opened a new store in Fenton.

The grand opening for 81Ohm will feature a ribbon cutting held by the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, and while guests check out the new studio, they will be able to get free massages in one of its two automated massage chairs, according to the 81Ohm Owner Kara Dahlberg.

Additionally, any prebooked appointments will be discounted during the event.

Guests are invited to stay after the grand opening for a drum circle organized by one of its partners, the Hive Holistic Center, at 7 p.m.

81Ohm offers a variety of services, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, automated massage, prenatal massage, cupping, and ear acupuncture.

81Ohm’s automated massages cost 75 cents per minute, while all other services cost $1 per minute.

“These range from one minute to 60 minutes for the automated options and up to two hours with a massage therapist,” Dahlberg said.

A view of a couple of automated massage chairs at 81Ohm Massage & Co. in downtown Flint on Friday, Jan. 3. (photo courtesy of 81Ohm Massage & Co.)81Ohm Massage & Co.



All service costs include a $5 cleaning fee, and anyone working or living in Flint will automatically receive a 10% discount on all the studio’s services.

Dahlberg has been working in the wellness industry for 13 years, but this is the first time she has opened her own massage studio.

“I definitely have been of two minds about it,” Dahlberg said. “One of them is definitely the sense of accomplishment, and then on the other mind, I feel obviously a sense of just new fear and change in just letting my dream actually overhaul.”

While the studio isn’t officially open, Dahlberg said it has already been taking prebooked appointments which can be made at 81ohm.com where a full list of the studio’s services can also be found.

“Pre-booked appointments have been going great,” Dahlberg said.

The studio’s name is a nod to Flint’s area code and a symbol that Dahlberg said reflects the core philosophy of the studio.

“Our tagline is, ‘Be good energy,’ so the ohm symbol is all about flow and resistance,” she said.

Dahlberg signed a three-year lease agreement with the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation for the space in November.

A view of a massage table at 81Ohm Massage & Co. in downtown Flint on Friday, Jan. 3. (photo courtesy of 81Ohm Massage & Co.)81Ohm Massage & Co.



A Flint Township resident herself, Dahlberg said she decided to open her studio in downtown Flint because there aren’t any other massage therapy businesses there.

“There are many massage therapy locations in our small five-mile radius, but once you get into downtown, you kind of have to get pushed out over to Miller Road, north to Corunna Road, Linden Road or back south towards Hill Road,” she said.

She also chose the location because it’s wheelchair accessible and within walking distance for local bus riders which she said makes it “pedestrian friendly.”

“That is just something I want to be way more inclusive because some of my clientele is not ambulatory, and I also just absolutely love downtown Flint,” Dahlberg said.

81Ohm is currently looking to hire massage therapists as well as front desk help, and Dahlberg said anyone interested in applying for a position with 81Ohm can call the studio at 810-206-2640 and pick up an application there.

The studio is open from Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and it will begin accepting walk-in appointments once it holds its grand opening.

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