Council approves transfer for Elite Foot & Body Spa; councilors pressed owner on licensing and past complaints

The Livonia City Council unanimously approved a request to extend a waiver‑use approval to permit a new owner to operate Elite Foot & Body Spa, a massage establishment, while council members and advocates pressed the prospective owner to confirm licensing and to address community concerns. The item — identified in staff documents as petition 2019‑04‑02‑07 — was discussed during the meeting’s unfinished business. Council members moved and seconded approval of the transfer; the clerk recorded the vote 7‑0. Council members used the public hearing to question the new owner, identified as Xiaoping (also presented as Siao Ping/Ocean Wellness), about licensing and business operations. Council members raised a separate concern that the downtown Plymouth‑Road location had appeared on a publicly available website that lists illicit massage businesses. Council Member (questioner) said the listing “gave me a pause today” and invited the applicant to address it. The owner and a representative — who said they had managed the business since 2015 and had completed state licensing and city business‑license submissions — said the present owner (who became owner in 2024) and staff maintained legitimate operations. The applicant explained that earlier issues referenced in public records involved a prior employee and preceded the current ownership. Doug Grama, who identified himself as a supporter and the spouse of an involved owner, told council members the business draws repeat customers and that the family had turned down higher offers from absentee buyers. “With that kind of repeat business, we feel a little responsibility that they’re going to be in the right place,” he said. Council Member Budzinski explained the current vote is not to bring a new business into the city but to preserve an existing business model and tenancy. “This isn’t about bringing a new business into the city. It is about Elite Foot Spa … that’s been there for over five years,” she said, noting police had no record of calls raising concerns at the site. The council did not adopt additional licensing conditions at the meeting; council members said they expect license and inspection follow‑up by city staff and reiterated the city’s authority to investigate illicit activity or licensing violations if complaints arise.