When Nicole and Jason Ruscio moved from Westport New York to Southport in 2021, they “instantly fell in love with the community,” says Nicole. “We both knew once we moved here: this is where we’re going to put down our roots,” she says. Before moving to Fairfield County and opening Squeeze, Nicole worked in the ad tech industry, but she says she and her husband Jason wanted to build something of their own, now that they’d found their forever home. Then inspiration struck: Jason, who works on Wall Street, has always been passionate about fitness, but found it was getting harder to recover physically as he aged. He began to incorporate massage therapy into his routine and immediately noticed the benefits. So the couple decided to bring Squeeze, a way better massage experience, to Westport.
“When we came across Squeeze several years ago, we invested in a concept and a brand that we truly believe in,” says Jason. “It fills a gap in the marketplace between a high-end spa experience—which is amazing, but maybe not practical to incorporate into a regular wellness routine—and the discount chains, which have a great price point, but perhaps miss the mark on the overall experience,” he explains. Squeeze was created by the co-founders of Drybar, a blow-dry bar that revolutionized how people thought about booking salon appointments, and it does the same for massage therapy. Squeeze offers both "Pay-Per-Squeeze" booking ($129 for 50 minutes, $159 for 80 minutes) and a monthly membership fee ($95 for one 50-minute massage per month and $125 for one 80-minute massage per month), making incorporating massage into your regular self-care easy. You can book appointments (same day, even!) on their app. And once you’re there, you get a fully customizable experience—you can choose an aromatherapy scent, select your music, and customize your massage with your therapist. “Squeeze allows guests to not have to choose between experience and price,” says Jason.
Another part of the Squeeze experience that sets it apart is the team. “Squeeze puts an emphasis on prioritizing our team members,” says Nicole. “We are firm believers that if you treat your team well, it will show through to the customer. We work hard to make this a place where our team actually enjoys coming to work.” (One example: each team member gets a free massage every month!). And that culture starts with Jason and Nicole, working together as a husband-and-wife. “We pick each other up and encourage each other when we need to,” says Nicole. “We’re in this together.”
Since opening Squeeze, Nicole and Jason have seen the impact that getting regular massages can have on people. “If you're active in sports, or working out, or running, massages are a really important factor in recovery,” says Nicole. “As a parent [they have two kids, ages 8 and 4], I would say massage is also great for reducing your stress. We're open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., which allows a commuter from the city or a parent who puts their kids to bed and wants to end their night with a massage that flexibility.”
“The feedback from the community has been amazing,” agrees Jason. “When guests walk in who have been having a crummy day or have expressed something difficult happened in their life and they're feeling down, seeing the difference in their mood when they walk out really touches our hearts,” says Nicole.
Squeeze is located in The Village Center shopping center at 625 Post Road E. To sign up for a membership or book an appointment, visit squeezemassage.com or download the Squeeze - Massage app from the App Store.
"Squeeze allows guests to not have to choose between experience and price."