Michael Marzulli spends many Sunday afternoons during football season serving hot wings and crab legs to his hungry patrons at Chickie’s & Pete’s Packer Avenue location.
It’s also a good way to get acquainted with potential clientele for his All About Me Day Spa, 2020 Penrose Ave., where he is the owner and a massage therapist. Eagles offensive tackle Jon Runyan, who Marzulli just happened to meet while working at the sports bar, is a regular.
"I was using another guy for a couple of years and then it became a matter of convenience," Runyan said, referring to Marzulli’s proximity to the NovaCare Complex. "I leave work two minutes before my appointment and I am here."
Safety Quintin Mikell, along with former Eagle Reno Mahe, use Marzulli, as well. Philadelphia-born Bernard Hopkins sought out Marzulli before his July bout with Winky Wright. He traveled to Las Vegas to help the fighter the weekend of the event.
"Those individuals that care about longevity in their careers want to stay in shape and keep themselves as healthy as possible. Those individuals that seek out therapies [are able] to stay in top shape so that they can have prolonged careers in the NFL," Marzulli said.
The offensive lineman, who is in his 12th NFL season, has a standing Thursday night appointment throughout the season.
"Sometimes it’s general and sometimes it’s ‘I’ve got a problem’ or it’s ‘I’ve got a lot of swelling and you need to push it out,’" Runyan said. "The biggest thing is being able to communicate with somebody and telling them what you need."
This includes letting the therapist know how his body reacted from the previous week’s treatment.
Marzulli said each session is tailored to the individual.
"It really depends on what type of injury or what their body is feeling," he said. "It’s a relationship where I have to talk to them and they have to talk to me about what’s going on and what’s bothering them the most.
"If it’s the hamstring, we focus on the hamstring, but also encompass other surrounding tissue. You can’t just work on one aspect and not the other."
Relieving pro athletes of their pain helps spread the word about Marzulli. Members of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions have used his services when in town, as well as Major Indoor Soccer League players.
"With athletes, it’s a big referral system," Marzulli, who resides on the 1550 block of Curtin Street, said. "If they like you, they’ll keep referring you to their teammates."
Marzulli started out making house calls, but after three years he realized a service location would make business much easier. He found the Penrose spot in 2005, which was originally a tanning salon, and opened it later that year. He has since expanded to include skin care, facials and waxing. Marzulli’s expertise is body work, which includes massage therapy, as he graduated from Reading-based Alvernia College with a degree in physical therapy.
"When I got done [with school] I actually went back to massage therapy because it allowed me more freedom to do the things I wanted to do," he said.
Non-athletic types also are regulars. Some come for help with chronic problems, while others look for massage therapy as a cure for neck and back pain.
But Marzulli notes his massages are not a cure-all.
"It’s a complement to other forms of medicine, not a substitute for medical care," he said.
Runyan said he takes the approach of figuring out what works best for the body.
"You can’t be scared to try something different because you don’t know. It might work, it might not, but you have to at least try it," he said.
The offensive tackle reserves Thursday nights for treatment because it is after the longest practice day of the week, with the Eagles spending two hours outside.
"I’ll fall asleep half the time on the table," Runyan said.
Whether or not it was Marzulli’s magic, Runyan says the ’06 season was probably one of his healthiest.
"The only practice I missed was when somebody stepped on my ankle with a cleat," he said. "I was pretty lucky last year."
Marzulli is constantly looking to expand, even when he is serving crab fries and beer. At the spa, he maintains a book of clients with photos as well as their comments on his services. Hopkins wrote "very good, the best" on his page.
The work with the fighter typically includes stretching before and after sparring sessions, as well as soft-tissue work. Prior to Hopkins departing for training camp in June, the therapist was spending five hours a day with his client.
Whether it’s working with a world boxing champ, an Eagle or an Average Joe, Marzulli finds great enjoyment knowing he took a bit of the pain away.
"I do this because I love to do it and I love helping other people get rid of any type of problem," he said.
