“Bruce the Masseuse”- Long time Oak Street Beach icon is still going strong

He estimates he has seen 300 different lifeguards come and go during his long tenure. The restaurant nearby has undergone at least three name changes; hundreds of varying security guards have come and gone, and don't even try and count how many different ice cream vendors he has seen over the years.

Over a long time, the only constant at one of Chicago's favorite beaches, Oak Street Beach, has been the presence of Bruce Groeper-better known as "Bruce the Masseuse."

His small self-made wooden structure, with shaded enclosures and benches for massages, is located right around the bend as you head to North Avenue Beach and has truly stood the test of time.

How long? How about seventeen consecutive years!

That's a lot of beach massages.

"I am out here, weather permitting, every day of the week," Groeper states proudly and continues, "I love meeting the people, working with my hands (literally!), being outdoors, and having regular customers come by and say hello. In fact, some who aren't even customers will just stop by and say hi just because I have been out here so long."

Groeper, a lifelong Chicago resident, had many aspirations in his early working days, none of which included becoming a massage therapist.

"Not exactly one of my career goals," laughs Groeper, "I had a lot of interests back then including running marathons and becoming a Chicago cop, but they got side tracked somewhere along the way, and here I am."

So, how exactly does a marathon runner and potential Chicago cop end up becoming a full-time masseuse?

"It has to do with a girl," says Groeper.

Ahh, like so many stories do.

"My girlfriend at the time loved to get massages, especially outdoors at the beach. She said I was great at it and joked that I could even make a career of it. Then she left for Florida, and I was stuck here and left with the thought of maybe pursuing that idea."

Groeper decided to pursue the idea but met with roadblocks along the way. The idea was in full stall mode until he decided to attend a Chicago Park District health fair where there were information booths and people to talk to, and finally, he was able to make some key contacts.

"It took a lot of talking and convincing and encouraging for them to even consider it," remembers Groeper, "but I finally got the Park District folks to let me give it a try, setting up a massage booth at Oak Street Beach. I guess you could say I got it done the old-fashioned Chicago way-I pressed a lot of flesh."

He has continued to "press a lot of flesh" for many years, with no signs of stopping: same location, same booth, same table. The prices have increased slightly (not much), but everything else is the same. Groeper did say that his business struggled a bit during the Pandemic.

"That was tough, but things are going well right now," he says, "Business is good, people are coming back, and I get new customers all the time. My biggest challenge currently is that the Park District keeps raising the rental rates for the beach space, so that makes it a challenge. That is the main reason I had to raise my rates a little bit."

Groeper has come across a few celebrities over the years who have stopped by for his unique beach massage experience. Billy Zane (of Titanic fame) and Mario Peebles were customers, and he proudly proclaims, with pictures in hand, how he gave special beach massages to Pac-Man characters Winky, Blinky and Clyde, and also the inflatable Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex from the Field Museum.

Maybe the best example of "Bruce The Masseuse" becoming an Oak Street Beach icon is that back in 2010, Chicago's very own "The Graffiti Guy," Jeff Zimmerman, chose to draw a caricature of him which still adorns the walls of the beach as you head to the passageway under Lake Shore Drive.

"I'm a beach made man," Groeper proudly claims, "some even call me the Mayor of Oak Street Beach."

Whatever you want to call him, I know from watching and observing him as I have passed by on several occasions, that he is truly dedicated, loyal, and passionate about his craft.

Finally, I had to ask him about his last name. Groeper? For a masseuse? Really?

"It's pronounced Gray-per," he said with a slight smile.

Thank goodness for that.

For information or reservations, contact coupsdemainmassage@sbcglobal.net or call 773-852-9071