Michael Norado, a barber by trade, and his wife opened a barbershop in north Lakeland in 2019. The business was thriving, leading them to open a smoke shop in the same plaza. However, when the pandemic hit, they were forced to close down. Instead of giving up, Norado and his wife decided to rethink their business strategy.

In 2021, Norado opened Relax Room, a zero-gravity massage chair lounge that is one of the first of its kind in the nation. The chair offers a unique massage experience that people can’t achieve on their own. The Relax Room is designed to help people unwind with music and lighting. By providing different experiences in one area, they hope to eliminate the need for people to travel around town to enjoy various activities.

Norado hopes that after their massage, customers will walk a short distance to the nearby ice cream shop, which opened two months ago. Without any investors or advisers, he has relied on YouTube tutorials and Pinterest for guidance. His hard work and dedication have brought him success in opening multiple businesses in the same area.

Looking ahead, Norado and his wife are leasing an empty unit at the end of the plaza with plans to open their fifth business—a restaurant. They hope that by providing different experiences in one area, they can continue to create positive atmospheres for their customers and contribute positively to their community.