Play Cafe at Judson Mill is now open. What to know about menu items, play areas, pricing
When Play Cafe at Judson Mill, an indoor play concept, first opened on March 30, owner Austin Motes went through a "learning curve." Having so many children in one place would take some getting used to.
As guests near Play Cafe within the Judson Mill building, excited shrieks and laughter can be heard throughout the hallways. Once inside the play area, parents are met with a buzz of activity: children running after one another, going down slides, or driving on Little Tikes ice cream trucks. They are happy, making plenty of friends along the way.
But with all of the commotion going on, safety was of the upmost priority.
"That's why we incorporated stations and it's also why we incorporated headsets as well, just so that everyone is on the same page. If somebody sees something, they can call it out over the radio and then we can get to it quicker." Motes said.
Since opening, Play Cafe has seen much success not only with children but with parents as well, who work at the cafe while their kids explore the indoor play area.
"Some parents just put headphones on and do some work, which we're completely fine with. And then some parents want to actually go in the structures and play with their kids, which is completely fine as well," Motes said. "As long as the kids are putting down tablets and phones and socializing and playing, that's what we're here for."
Play areas, stations and structures
∎Play Cafe occupies 17,000 square feet of "The Warehouse" at Judson Mill. Motes decided to utilize the facility for its high ceilings, making room for tall play structures. There are two play structures, one two stories high and the other, three stories. The structures are netted with slides, tunnels, ladders, and climbing structures.
∎Imagination Stations feature a kitchen, fire and police station, and pet and grocery store for children who do not want to play on the larger structures, giving them an opportunity for hands-on learning and exploration.
∎Kids can trace objects through sensory boards (for example, trace where apples and birds go in trees).
∎Traditional straight slides and giant tube slides.
∎Plastic ball fountains and a Nerf gun station.
Play Cafe pricing, hours of operation
Play Cafe is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. On Saturdays, it is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-6 p.m.
Pricing for passes are as follows:
∎ All-Day Pass: Play anytime during hours of operation with a single-day pass unless Play Cafe is closed for an event or inclement weather. Come and go all day with a wristband. The All-Day pass price is $12 on weekdays and $15 on weekends. Kids two and under are admitted for free with a paying admission.
∎ Unlimited Play Pass: Get unlimited playtime with a monthly pass unless Play Cafe is closed for an event or inclement weather. Waivers must be signed for every child. An Unlimited Play pass is $29.95.
∎ Multi-child discounts: Three kids or more get 20% off each additional child. Children 2 and under enter for free with a paying child. Waiver must be signed for every child.
For more information on passes and special party packages, visit here.
Eating at Play Cafe
Parents may be wondering what is on the menu for kids at Play Cafe. There are healthy food options for parents, from vegan to keto-friendly available, as well as gluten-free and carb-laden delights. The children's menu will also have nutritious snacks for picky eaters. A full list of menu options is coming soon. In the meantime, Motes has a few ideas in mind for what he would like to incorporate into the cafe.
"I want to obviously have pizza for the birthday parties, but then I'm going to have grilled chicken sandwiches, a regular avocado BLT and regular BLT, smoothies, and then chicken nuggets for the kids as well," he said. "And three vegetarian options, so we're going to do a vegetarian salad and then a soup as well. So I want it to be like a kind of small sandwich shop essentially."
Plans for an Inclusive Play Concept
In the short period Play Cafe has been open, Motes was able to identify a need in the community: a time when children with special needs could play without feeling overstimulated.
"It was either they had issues with noise or just over crowdedness, so we wanted to offer a set time just for special needs and autistic, that group," Motes said. "In probably the next couple weeks, we will set a time just like we're going to have toddler time on Wednesday from eight to ten."
To better accommodate the group, Motes will make adjustments to certain areas of the Play Cafe. This will include dimming half of the lights, lowering the sound of the compressor, and not allowing too many people to play during the set time. There will also be a hallway called the "calm corner."
"We will have a sensory hallway and the two rooms in the back will be sensory as well," he said.
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Here's what to know about menu items, pricing, play area at Play Cafe
