Meet Vanessa Denola, the owner of CuppingNYC, located at 24-20 Jackson Ave.
What do you get when you combine five-star hospitality training, a background in graphic design, and a deep love for community? For this longtime Queens resident, the answer is a thriving massage therapy practice in the heart of Court Square — and a second career she never saw coming. From the halls of Madison Avenue to high-end spas and finally her own studio, Vanessa Denola has built a business rooted in care, customer service, and connection. We spoke with her about her journey to becoming a small business owner, the charm of Long Island City, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of cupping.
Q: Please share a little bit about your background, your career, and your path to becoming a business owner/manager.
Vanessa: I grew up in San Francisco, then Northern CA wine country, and lived in SF for eight years before relocating to NYC in 1996. I graduated from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in Manhattan in 2008. In my previous life, I was a graphic designer for 16 years who toiled in the hallways of Madison Avenue advertising venues. This made me very sympathetic to the ails of office desk life. When I was 20, I had taken a class with a work colleague titled “Massage Your Friends on the Weekend,” haha, but it always stuck with me, and I’d find myself massaging my coworkers who would always say, “You should be a massage therapist!” I always laughed and said, “What??? Never!” Well, as the saying goes, never say never… I had my first child while working in advertising, and the writing was on the wall. I knew that graphic design and New Business advertising did not mesh. I took to heart what people had been saying for years and took the plunge to go back to school (with an infant). Highly don’t recommend that! Anyway, I’m so happy I did, as I excelled in school and finally found a job I enjoy to this day. I spent eight years working in high-end spas such as the Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf Astoria and the New York Palace Hotel–both before their grand renovations! I wouldn’t trade my five-star/five-diamond training for the world, it helped me understand customer service on a level I would never have received elsewhere.
Q: Why did you choose to open a business in Long Island City?
Vanessa: I’ve lived in Queens since 2007. I started in Sunnyside and commuted to the city first for massage school and then for work. I opened my first solo business in Woodside renting a warmly lit room at a lovely spa called Dermamiracle. This led to a natural transition to LIC where I had an opportunity to rent a space in SacredWaters on 51st. When the Pandemic hit, we kept going after Phase I, but unfortunately SacredWaters had to close. This led to my current and longest-lasting location in Court Square. I love the area and it has been so lovely getting to know my neighbors. You’ll often find me in my “living room,” Pantry Market drinking an Energizer Blast and a perfect black coffee.
Q: What do you want the community to know about your business?
Vanessa: If you’re afraid of cupping, I highly recommend you try it! It doesn’t hurt and it is very effective for enhancing the results of your massage. The reason I’ve done LIC Springs for several years is to introduce the idea of cupping to those that aren’t familiar or are scared. I’ve had such amazing results, and if you look at the smiles on the faces of the people who have done it, it’s undeniable that it is an amazing tool for recovery and relaxation.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Long Island City?
Vanessa: I love being by the water, the ability to commute by water is one of my favorite things about LIC. I have told my kids that they are the luckiest kids on earth to commute to school by ferry and one day, far into the future, they will acknowledge my sage revelation! I love the small neighborhood feel of Vernon Blvd and have made friends that will last a lifetime. I love that there are five-star rated restaurants as well as hole-in-the-wall gems and many businesses that have stood the test of time.
Q: What change has been the most significant to you on Jackson Ave and LIC in general within the past 5-10 years?
Vanessa: The changes I’ve seen on the two blocks by my office have been substantial. The cleanliness of the street and the influx of residents has made the area a bustling, safer and more beautiful area.
