Madison Tower Health Club

This place has been kind of a secret among my circle of friends for a while now. If you want a cheap, effective shiatu massage but you want it with a little bit of amenities (sauna, steam room, relaxation room), and do it all under $ 100, this is the place we go.
They offer 3 deals… $ 110 for 90 mins or $ 80 for 60 mins of either shiatu or swedish (forget this option, they have NO idea how to perform a real swedish massage… it’s still pointy pressure all the way)
This place is by no means Bliss… it’s decorated sparsely with random marble elements and somewhat tacky & tired furnishing. It’s kind of a cross between an x-​rated massage parlor (think tinted glass front doors with brass handles) and an infirmatory (carpeted hallways with little wooden doors opening to sterile rooms with steel bars on the ceiling).
However, there is NO fluorescent lighting… thank goodness.
Now it all sounds very bleak. and it’s pretty bleak… but there are a few good things that other semi-​cheap shiatu places don’t offer:
These ladies WILL walk on your back.
These ladies ARE skilled (at least with Shiatu. I don’t know why they even offer swedish since I am pretty sure they have no idea what it means)
Private room
Steam room is eucalyptus scented
Sauna is well kept… (tho watch out for the lone nail on the ceiling when you step up to the bench)
And lastly, the MOST important part… a relaxing heated floor room that you can lay down your weary head after the massage.
I don’t like how other lower-​priced massage places usually turn you out in the cold right after a massage. So it’s important to me that I have some where to relax after the massage.
So, this is all well and great… however here is the caveat… The last time I was there (⁴⁄₄), they MADE me tip $ 20. After the $ 80 service, I offered to tip 20% which is $ 16. The front desk woman said… «oh sorry, you must tip $ 20 or more, it’s our policy». I was stunned… I have been to this place many times before and they have never force a tip before.
When I questioned her further, she visibly lost her patience with me. She took out a card, wrote the owner’s name and phone number on it and told me to «deal with the owner».
I found this VERY distasteful. If they want to make more money, then just increase the rate. Tips should be discretionary and 20% is plenty in my opinion. After this little fiasco… I am not sure I would go back…
If someone knows of another place that’s of similar pricing and amenity, I would love to know!