City Hall is trying to pull the plug on a tiny Midtown spa it says was running as a “hot Asian lady” brothel just off Billionaires' Row, after undercover officers were allegedly offered sexual services inside. A new civil lawsuit aims to shut the business down for a year and hit the operators and building owner with $1,000-per-day fines.
According to the complaint, the city’s case leans on two undercover visits on Dec. 3, 2025 and Jan. 7, 2026, along with in-store pricing and online ads that officials say point to sex-for-pay behind the spa’s unassuming storefront.
Allegations in the complaint
The city’s filing, cited by the New York Post, identifies the business as 57 Star Beauty Shop. In both the December and January undercover visits, an occupant allegedly agreed to provide “manual stimulation” for a fee.
The complaint also calls out a sandwich board on the sidewalk that pitched “30 minutes of aroma relaxing bodywork” for $58, and it flags listings on sex-ad websites that the city argues were effectively advertising prostitution. The suit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court and asks a judge to order a one-year closure of the spa and daily fines against Tsukiji KK Corporation and other named respondents.
Owner and property records
Property documents show the six-story walkup that houses 57 Star Beauty Shop is owned by TSUKIJI LTD. and affiliated entity Tsukiji KK Corporation, according to the city’s assessment roll and reporting by PincusCo. PincusCo reports that a Tokyo-based buyer recorded a sale for the building in April 2025, and the city’s assessment page lists TSUKIJI LTD. as the owner on the city's site.
The Manhattan complaint names Tsukiji KK as one of the respondents the city wants fined and temporarily shut down in connection with the alleged brothel activity.
A tiny shop on an oversized block
The spa’s address puts it on the same block as some of the priciest condos in Manhattan, a classic Midtown juxtaposition where modest walkups sit right next to ultra-luxury towers on West 57th Street. On “Billionaires' Row,” marquee projects include 111 West 57th Street, where units have been marketed for tens of millions of dollars, according to The Real Deal.
The city argues that sitting in the shadow of a high-end condo tower does not shield a shop from nuisance enforcement if a judge agrees the operation crossed the legal line.
Owner's pushback
Owner Melinda Her has denied the accusations, telling the New York Post that 57 Star Beauty Shop offers legitimate services such as facials, head therapy and massages. Her response, relayed to the paper through a friend, directly contradicts the city’s description of the business as a front for prostitution.
Her denial, set against the city’s bid for steep fines and a one-year padlock, suggests the case is heading for a contested civil fight rather than a quiet settlement.
What's next
The lawsuit is now before a judge in Manhattan Supreme Court, who will decide whether to grant the city’s request to close the spa for a year and impose $1,000-per-day penalties. If the judge signs off, the owner could be barred from operating the shop during that period and face significant civil fines.
Upcoming filings and any hearing dates should appear in public city and court records. This story will be updated as more documents or official statements emerge.
