March is Women’s History Month. Each week, we’ll profile an incredible woman whose work over the years has made Myrtle Avenue a great place.
She has her father’s smile, she says. He was always smiling, always laughing. Rebecca Lai is the owner of both Brownstone Spa at (473 Myrtle Avenue) and JJ Kitchen (475 Myrtle) in Clinton Hill, and her friendly manner immediately puts one at ease. It was also her father that prompted her to get her massage therapist’s license. He worked long hours and she wanted to help him with massage but didn’t know how. So she decided to learn.
Rebecca had been managing the restaurant Kum Kau, just a few doors down from Brownstone Spa, since 1992. While holding down that job and raising her son as a single mom, she took on the added task of learning massage therapy. It took her six years to finally get her degree, and the plan was for her to have someone else run the spa, but she ultimately left the restaurant to be at Brownstone full-time.
Next door to Brownstone Spa, there was a bubble tea lounge. While talking with the owner one day, Rebecca suggested they serve some food, like noodle soup and dumplings. The owner wasn’t interested. But Rebecca told him to keep her in mind if he ever felt like getting out of the business. Well, not long after, he did want out and she quickly turned her vision for noodle soup and dumplings into reality. Rebeca, who runs the restaurant’s operations, and her brother, who mans the kitchen, must be doing something right because they have been getting nothing but rave reviews since they opened last year.
Rebecca at her restaurant JJ Kitchen, 475 Myrtle Avenue
With help from her mother in raising her son, plus encouragement and flexibility from the owners of Kum Kau, Rebecca was able to realize her desire to help people with the healing power of touch. She attributes her community of family and friends with helping her write her success story.
From being that familiar smile at Kum Kau for decades to now serving up massages and dumplings, Rebecca has a visible presence in the Myrtle Avenue community. We look forward to seeing what other things Rebecca has in store for Myrtle Avenue as time goes on!
