HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Parents of a northwest Harris County neighborhood are banding together to try to shut down a business they said is far too close to a day care. Parents of the Hearthstone community contacted Local 2 after the Reunite Spa opened just 39 steps away from the Early Exploration day care.
"I mean, every mom in this neighborhood knows about this business and wants something done about it," said Loretta Higgins, the mother of a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old daughter.
Parents told Local 2 the spa opened a few weeks ago near the back of a strip shopping center at the intersection of FM 529 and Huffmeister.
Pink LED lights line the black tinted windows at the front of the business. The name Reunite, spelled out in red letters and red arrows, points to a front door and offers no clue as to the type of services offered at the business.
"Our kids walk to the park in this neighborhood -- terrifying," said a mother who asked not to be identified. "That's just too close to home for us."
Internet advertisements for the spa were not difficult to find and offer customers "a qualified massage therapist," along with "table showers" and "clean and nice VIP rooms."
While there is no mention of any nefarious services offered, words like "naughty" and "sexy" next to pictures of lingerie-clad women has parents worried.
"I don't like it being in the neighborhood, but I really don't like it being across from a day care. That's a real poor place to put it," said Mark Turner, father of a 3-year-old boy.
Local 2 tried to talk with employees of the spa but no one answered the bell posted next to a locked door in an incense filled anteroom. However, a camera could be seen that appears to monitor all those who come and go from the business.
Parents said they have contacted law enforcement to ask for extra patrols and have even started an online petition to try to force the owner of the strip center to get the business out.
Unless some type of illegal activity is found happening at the business, parents conceded it will be difficult to get the business to move out of the strip center and away from the day care.
"I have great trepidations about bringing my children back to this day care in the fall and that is a shame,' said Higgins.
When Local 2 called a number listed for the spa, the phone rang several times with no answer. An after business hours call to the company that owns the strip center has not yet been returned.