01907 Summer 2022

18 | 01907
SUMMER 2022 | 19
Town trio stretching
toward success
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
Craig and Julie Tucci have opened
StretchLab in Swampscott in
partnership with their long-time friend,
John Vaccarezza.
PHOTOS: SPENSER HASAK
A
married couple and their
longtime friend are banking on
the staying power of the latest
health and wellness trend.
The trio believes their professional
backgrounds in the banking industry, health
and wellness, and education provide the
perfect combination to be successful in the
fast-growing StretchLab franchise.
Craig and Julie Tucci, and John
Vaccarezza have opened an assisted stretching
boutique on Paradise Road, and plan to open
two more StretchLab studios, the next one
being in North Reading.
The California-based company was
founded in 2015. The number of StretchLab
studios operating in the United States has
more than doubled from pre-pandemic
levels, from 72 to 150, according to a CNN
report. Another 600-plus franchises are in
development in the U.S. and abroad, the
same report said.
The Tuccis said they believe in the
benefits that assisted stretching brings to
people of all ages. Since their soft launch in
early April, the Andover couple said their
clientele has run the gamut, from athletes
looking to recover from overuse injuries or
prepare for races, to sedentary people who
need to increase their blood flow and range
of motion.
The Vinnin Square studio also attracts
a fair amount of older clientele, who are
dealing with muscle tension and want to
increase their mobility, said Craig.
Not to be confused with yoga, the
couple said assisted stretching — which is
performed by flexologists who undergo a
rigorous training and certification process —
can also serve as a supplement to a person’s
exercise regimen.
“We try not to label it as fitness,” said
Craig, 45. “It certainly benefits folks that
are active. It really benefits the whole
population.”
“It doesn’t take the place of yoga, but it
helps to improve your yoga, running, strength
training, or day-to-day tasks,” added Julie, 42.
Julie said they were looking at different
franchises to invest in and StretchLab caught
their attention. According to her, the pair
tries to stay active, and for Julie, who has
been in the wellness industry for a long time
and has worked as a dietician, it was about
investing in an industry that she already had
experience in.
Also factoring into their decision, was
that they had both tried and benefited from
an assisted-stretching session in a different
StretchLab studio.
“Being an avid runner and practicing
strength training and yoga myself, StretchLab
Nancy Masiello, a flexologist at the new StretchLab in Swampscott, right, demonstrates one of her many
stretching techniques on co-owner Julie Tucci.
497 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA
781-599-3411
Mon - Th 9-5, Fri 9-3 781-581-7200