We caught up with Grace McDonald this week! You’ll recognize her friendly smile from Graceful Touch Massage Therapy (note to self: book a massage ASAP!). She shared a bit about her connection to Glens Falls and raising her daughter here, the joys of entrepreneurship, and one type of restaurant that she’d like to see added to the mix downtown.
Tell us about yourself!
Hi! My name is Grace McDonald. I’m the owner of Graceful Touch Massage Therapy (Winner of The Post Star Best of the Region 2019) in Queensbury, NY. I was born in Belize, Central America. My mom and I lived in South Glens Falls for 5 years before moving to Glens Falls in my freshman year of high school and I’ve lived here ever since. I’m in my 40’s now, married to my husband Scott for 27 years, and we have one beautiful daughter, Jade, who is now 26 years old and married to my son-in-law Daniel.
On Life in Glens Falls
You could say that I grew up here in Glens Falls. I’ve definitely seen the amazing changes that have happened and continue to happen in this amazing community. My mother was the seamstress for many years at Aroxy Dry Cleaners until she retired and that’s why we settled here in Glens Falls. What I love about living in Glens Falls is that it’s the best place to raise a family. After graduating high school, I got married and had my daughter. When Jade started school at Sanford Street, I worked as a Teacher Aide in Big Cross Street School for over 10 years. Now, I work with teachers helping them relieve their stress levels and they hold a special place in my heart.
Thinking back on those years raising Jade, there’s no better place I would have wanted to be doing that and working with the children in my community than here in Glens Falls. The Crandall Library was a place downtown that we loved going to get books to read and do activities as she grew up. We also went to Crandall Park to play in the summer months and sledding in the winter months. My husband and I still live in the home close to Sanford Street where we raised our daughter. My momma lives in one apartment and we live in the other. We have great neighbors that help each other and some new families that have moved in with little ones. Being close to downtown with the diversity in shops and restaurants is also one of the many things that I also love about living in Glens Falls.
On Entrepreneurship
In October 2017 I opened my business, Graceful Touch Massage Therapy inside The Skin Transformation Center on Bay Road and the support from the people in the community has been so awesome - my heart is so happy! I won Best of the Region 2019 and was 3rd in 2018! Today, I’m booked out 6 weeks ahead! What a supportive community I live in that makes me a part of their wellness program and I’m so grateful to be a part of it! I look forward to many more years doing what I love, receiving the support and supporting the businesses (Dickinson’s Delights, Adirondack Etching, Sensibiliteas and others) in my community here in Glens Falls.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My perfect day in Glens Falls would be going to have breakfast at Steve’s Place. I love their meat lovers omelet with their home fries! Then going to get an acupuncture treatment at The Acupuncture Studio on Warren Street (Brooke is the best) and after that having lunch at The Exchange Café with their delicious sandwiches and salads, before heading to my office for the rest of the day and working with the best clients anyone could ask for!
On the Future
If I could have anything here in Glens Falls, it would be an Indian restaurant downtown! True, there’s one in Lake George, but to have one downtown along with Siam Thai, Mikado (Japanese) and the other fantastic restaurants would be just perfect! I’m hoping that one day soon that will become a reality!
