Bitcoin-Powered Bathhouse Brings Sauna Rituals to Philly
Bathhouse, a coed bathhouse chain, is expanding to Philadelphia with its largest standalone wellness complex yet. The 36,000-square-foot space in the Bellevue Hotel's basement food court offers three saunas, three pools, a steam room, and appointment-only massages.
The company's business model revolves around choreographed sauna rituals and Bitcoin-heated pools. Founder Travis Talmadge claims that their approach is not about relaxation but rather about pushing oneself to new limits. The facility will host aufgusses, a German ritual where a sauna master whips towels around the room while melting essential oil-doused snowballs on hot stones.
Bathhouse has received a $35 million investment from Imaginary Ventures and plans to expand to Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, North Jersey, and Connecticut. The Philly location will be its first outside of New York City. Day passes start at $29, making it one of the cheapest options in the city.