NORTHFIELD — It was 20 years ago that Zo Zeininger saw the “for rent” sign while walking down Main Street, and soon after opened the doors to her own massage business.

Now, a change to Zeininger’s lease has brought that time to a close.

According to Zeininger, her yearly lease with property owner Jody James was changed to an “at-will” tenancy, giving James the ability to issue an order to vacate with only one month’s notice, which he did on Oct. 31, 2023. Zeininger said the new lease looked the same as previous ones, and she didn’t read it carefully before signing.

“I’ve been there for 20 years,” Zeininger said. “I was told there was no negotiation [on the terms of the lease.]”

James did not respond to calls from the Greenfield Recorder seeking comment.

Although Zeininger was able to stay in the location for longer than planned, when reached on March 1, she said she was in the process of packing up the business with plans to do home visits for now.

Working in the massage industry was something Zeininger wanted to do since she was a teenager. She specializes in integrated Swedish massages, and met with clients ahead of time to determine their needs.

“Even as a teenager I knew that touch was healing,” Zeininger said. “A simple touch can heal and I know that massage is even better.”

In addition to her business, Zeininger has done volunteer work with Relay For Life, the Franklin County Fair and the Boston Marathon, where she has offered massages for the runners for years. She said she plans to return to the marathon later this year.

Although Zeininger said she tried to find a new location for her business, she didn’t see anything that worked for her. She said her customers — some of whom have been coming to her business since she opened — were shocked to hear she would no longer be on Main Street. She recently heard from a couple who had been customers when she started but whom she had not heard from in 15 years.

“This is something that I always wanted to do,” she said, “and I feel great doing it.”

Max Bowen can be reached at mbowen@recorder.com or 413-930-4074.