Meet Us on Main Street: Tracey Hartz
- Main Street West Branch
- Jan 18, 2022
- 3 min read
West Branch's historic Main Street is a charming and quaint business district located just off I-80 at exit 254 (just 6 miles from Iowa City). It's home to unique small businesses and boasts an abundance of Iowa history. There's plenty to eat, shop & explore in West Branch but what makes it extra special is the people you'll meet here.
West Branch Community Development Group is pleased to highlight our local businesses with the Meet Us on Main Street series featuring Q&A's with business owners that make our Main Street so special. Today, it's our pleasure to lift up Tracey Hartz! Tracey is the owner of Touched by Power, a massage clinic that has earned rave reviews as a place for relaxation, restoration and healing. Here's our Q&A with Tracey:
Tell us a little about your background. I grew up in West Branch, graduated in '99 and went on to Kirkwood for occupational therapy and after getting that degree went right into massage school at Carlson College of Massage Therapy in Stone City, Iowa. I live in rural Atalissa/Rochester area with my Husband (Josh) and 4 kids: Morgan (a freshman in college), Madelyn (Senior), Teagyn (Freshman) and Cooper (6th grade).
Where can we find you? Touched by Power is at 104 W. Main Street in West Branch. Our current hours are Monday & Friday from 8am to 4pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 8am to 9pm. You can book appointments online or purchase gift certificates at touchedbypower.com and follow us on Facebook here.
What motivated you to start your business? I feel like I was always motivated in a way to start my own place. My dad had owned his own business and was always so supportive of me and my business!
How long have you been operating? I have been doing massage therapy for 20 years now!
What inspires your work and what sets your business apart? I always have been inspired to help people and make them feel their very best. I would say all my little extras in my massages is what sets us apart... from the foot bath when you walk in the door to the complimentary paraffin treatment on your hands and hot towels and pedicure during the massage! These things have always been included in your visit at Touched by Power.
Describe the products/services you offer. I offer 30, 45, 60 or 90 minute massages as well as a ionic detox foot bath and air brush spray tanning services. I also sell a variety aromatherapy products including homemade soy candles in a wide variety of scents (and with fun, witty labels) that change seasonally.
What are a few of your top-selling items? Our top selling service is the 60-90 minute massages. The homemade soy candles are also a favorite.
What brought you to Main Street West Branch? While spa services were shut down during the pandemic I took the time to move into a new location on Main Street. It's a great fit, I cannot say how much this has made my business grow and flourish even more than it was before!
What are your plans for the future of your business? I'm not going anywhere. I plan on at least working another 20 more years if my body will let me!
Fun Fact: I can still do the splits... even at age 40!
Meet Us on Main Street to visit with Tracey and Eat, Shop, Explore at Exit 254!
Lovely Q&A with Tracey—her massage clinic sounds like the perfect stop after a long stretch on I-80, and I love that West Branch's Main Street has such a personal feel. By the way, I keep a free recipe site for late-night cravings I like to share: https://foodnevercomes.net/
What an inspiring spotlight on a community member making a positive difference. Stories like this strengthen local connections and encourage kindness. It also reminds us that what does respite care mean is providing family caregivers with trusted support so they can rest while loved ones continue receiving attentive care.
I was pretty skeptical when my friend kept going on about Colony Flow. Seemed like another ant game. Then I tried the first few levels and before I knew it, an hour had passed. The way those numbered blocks count down and you have to juggle the five slots — it’s way more strategic than it looks.
I honestly didn't expect to like Game Is Hard as much as I do. The way it plays with words - making text interactive - is so creative. Each level feels like a new invention.
Pixel Flow is my secret addiction. I play it during slow moments at work. The waiting area pressure makes it exciting but not stressful. I keep coming back to try new strategies on tricky levels.