Following a police investigation, a woman was arrested for prostitution at an illegal massage parlor at 645 Broadway, Massapequa, shown at far left. A man empties the trunk of his car following a two-week vacation. Next door, a couple work on their garden and across the street a statue of the Blessed Mother sits on a front lawn. It’s suburbia on Commonwealth Avenue in Massapequa—except for the house of prostitution around the corner.

A Flushing woman, who police say operated an illegal massage parlor and house of prostitution in Massapequa, was arrested Tues., Aug. 24. The arrest took place following an undercover operation at 645 Broadway.

Charged in that incident was Min Jung Kwon, 51 of Sanford Ave., Flushing. Operating on information provided to them, police from Nassau County’s narcotics and vice bureau sent undercover officers to Smile Body Works at 645 Broadway where they were offered sexual acts for a fee. They subsequently arrested Kwon for prostitution. In addition, police said Kwon was not licensed to practice acupuncture, and was later charged with unauthor- ized practice.

Employees at other businesses in the strip mall were not surprised to see the arrest on Tuesday afternoon.

“It was a little obvious,” said an employee of Nationwide Insurance of the activities he witnessed outside the illegal massage parlor. “There were a lot of weird guys hanging around. They’d ring the doorbell, walk away and then walk back a little later.”

Shopkeepers say the suspicious activities began about two months ago.

“This is a good area,” said one worker at Kay’s Nails, next door to the site. “It doesn’t belong here.” She, too, described the situation at 645 Broadway as “very obvious.”

Residents living behind the strip mall were taken by surprise, however, when told about the incident by a reporter. They said they never saw any signs that the storefront was being used for prostitution and other illegal activities. But, there were suspicions.

“It was a shady place,” recalls one neighbor. “When I saw one of the women working there, I asked what kind of business it was, and she said ‘body works,’ but I had no idea.” He added that there was a towel covering the entrance, which raised his curiosity.

According to other neighbors, there was nothing else that raised their concerns

“There was nothing strange going on by the back door; it was always quiet,” said another shocked neighbor.

The building at 645 Broadway in North Massapequa, which was once Aquarium Network, is now vacant. Through the front window you can see a couch, a coffee table, and two acupuncture posters on the wall.

Kwon was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday, Aug. 25

Meanwhile, residents in the area said they were glad to see that the police had moved in and closed down the business. “It’s fantastic,” said one resident about the arrest. “The police did a great job.”