We chatted with Erica Celeste this week! She shares some of her favorite memories of growing up in Glens Falls, the breakfast spot that knows her order by heart, a bit about her business, Empire City Massage and Meditation, and more…
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Erica Celeste and I’m a massage therapist, yoga teacher and business owner in Glens Falls. I live in Hudson Falls with my husband Will, our daughter and our 7 year old Bichon Frisé, Jax. Entrepreneurship was not a decision I made lightly. It took a lot for me to leave my career as the nerve conduction technologist at Adirondack Rehabilitation Medicine, PLLC. I absolutely loved everything about it, from testing to teaching and the staff I worked with. The change happened after I gave birth to my daughter, Eleanor. For over 10 years, I dreamed of owning my own massage therapy and wellness business. Having this tiny human was just the nudge I needed to do it. In April of 2023 I launched Empire City Massage and Meditation. You can also find me every Thursday at noon leading a guided meditation at Grounded On Glen Street in downtown Glens Falls!
I am the only girl out of six children. I’m lucky to have been born into the family I have. Growing up, my brothers made me feel like I had an army of protectors. Even at the age of 31, they still make me feel that way. I especially looked up to my oldest sibling, Joel. I wanted to do everything he did. I remember walking into the Rec Center and asking to carry his hockey bag so it looked like I played hockey like him. Of course, he was no dummy. He gladly gave up the bag for me to carry in and out of the rink. Joel played violin so I played violin. Joel became the most amazing parent, so I strive to be the same.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I was born and raised in Glens Falls. My father, John Norton, is a longstanding Glens Falls police officer, who was raised here just like my mother was. Growing up, my family was spread throughout city but my favorite home was on Knight St. That’s where I met my childhood best friend, Maddie. Maddie would drive her red Jeep down the street to mine. Even now, I can still hear the tires digging into the gravel driveway. We would head back to her house to play school (she later became a middle school vice principal), pick strawberries, and bug our neighbor Rita for some of her world famous bowties and an endless supply of gum.
Connections like the one I made with Maddie are what keeps me tied to this city. It’s an incredible feeling to know that I could knock on a number of doors and be greeted with open arms. It’s a sense of belonging I haven’t experienced anywhere else.
On House Hunting
My husband and I own a home in Hudson Falls. We began our house searching journey shortly after our wedding. To say searching for a home in a post-COVID world was discouraging would be an understatement. An opportunity presented itself and like all of the good things in my life, picking our home actually became one of the the easiest decisions I’ve ever made. My husband and I were able to purchase our home from lifelong friends without the home ever being listed. The timing was just right!
My favorite part of the home is our backyard. We have a swing that hangs from an apple tree where we get to spend time with our daughter.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My ideal day in Glens Falls would start with calling my dad bright and early to see if he is awake. We’re the early birds in the family and love our breakfast. Our go to breakfast spot is Poopie’s on Lawrence St. The wait staff usually has our order entered before we even get our coffee. After that I’d go for a run on the bike path, stopping at my in-laws for some water before heading back home. Later in the day I’d pop over to the high school to watch my nephew’s PAL football game while his sister cheers alongside him. The perfect ending to the day would be sitting around the hibachi table at Mikado with my entire family.
On the Past
One of my favorite Glens Falls memories was creating an apartment crawl with a group of my friends. The leaves were changing color, the air was starting to feel crisp and we were all craving a fall experience. One day we had an idea to use the Warren County Bikeway as a map, connecting all of our Glens Falls apartments. We thought of how fun it would be to just walk along the bike path, stopping at each house to try a signature dish and play a game before moving to the next. There were four stops along the bike path that we traveled to, although there was actually a fifth stop — the starting point. It began with our friend’s home in Hudson Falls. The same home that I now share with my family. It was an incredible night filled with good food, laughter and memories with loved ones.
On the Future
If I could bring something new to the city it would be a sanctuary for peace and wellness. I’ve always felt a strong pull to support people, especially when times are tough. The sense of support I gravitate towards the most is silence and space. My wildest dream would be to create a space filled with botanical gardens, meditation rooms, waterfalls, maybe even a butterfly exhibit! A space that literally asks nothing of the person visiting other then to relax, unwind and connect to the world around them.
At one point in time this idea was specifically targeted at those transitioning toward the end of life, particularly due to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). My grandmother passed away from complications due to ALS when I was five. I’d say it’s been a life-long pursuit to figure out a way to provide support to those experiencing that same transition. However, as I grow and evolve, I think that throughout any person’s life there are endings (and beginnings) that would benefit from a space like this.
The sanctuary I envision is a powerhouse of collaboration, welcoming expertise from fellow health and wellness experts! I am big on collaborating with other local businesses because it leads to serving our community and building amazing connections with the people of this city, more than any one person could do alone.
