At Play Cafe Has What Kids, Parents Need

While it's true that the At Play Cafe offers a full menu of delicious fare - homemade flatbread pizzas, wraps, salads and sandwiches, as well as  healthy, kid-friendly snacks  - the thing that keeps customers coming back are the surroundings.

There might not be any brushed nickel fixtures or spa-like ambience to speak of – but for parents of small children, a supervised playground is a much more beautiful sight. Especially if there are a couple of adult-sized chairs in which to relax with a cup of coffee or a laptop.

Susan Chen and her brother, David Lee, opened the At Play Cafe in the Hunters Woods Shopping Center in April of 2008.

"The concept was based on my own needs," says Chen, whose original vision for the cafe was to make it a place where parents could bring kids for classes and playtime as well as sit down for coffee or a chat with friends.

Chen, who has three young children, says the closest thing she could find was the childcare facility at her local gym.

" I wanted a place where parents could play with their kids, too, not just throw them into another daycare," she says.

What finally came together was a 3,000-square-foot space with a large, custom-built, fully enclosed play area. The play area has climbing structures, a play kitchen, and cozy areas to read books or play with toys.

The cafe is open and spacious, with fun and funky artwork adorning the walls. The play area is completely enclosed by a half-wall, which is surrounded by leather armchairs and small tables and chairs. On most days, those chairs are occupied by parents enjoying a book, a magazine or the cafe's free WiFi while their children play on the other side.

Chen says that unlike other kids' gyms, the play area at At Play Cafe is always open. There aren't any restrictive hours or complex calendars to consult before planning a visit.

The concept has been so successful that Chen is open to the idea of licensing other locations. She balks at the word "franchise," though, insisting that she would want additional locations to have the freedom to make changes and develop their own personalities.

Across the hallway from the play area is an enclosed classroom used for birthday parties and classes. The room is also used as a free-play area or for messy art projects whenever classes aren't in session.

A variety of classes are offered, from cooking classes for preschoolers to movement and music classes for infants. The cafe hires its own teachers rather than bringing in outside vendors.

"We wanted to offer classes for art, music and movement," says Chen. "The typical things preschoolers need."

An all-day pass to the play area is $8 (siblings are an additional $6). Parents are required to stay inside the cafe while their children play, though their children are supervised by designated cafe staff, and the play area can accommodate up to 25 children.

Perhaps one of the most unique services the cafe offers is their anytime drop-off program. For $12 an hour, parents in need of a bit of solitude can drop their children off for a maximum of three hours, no reservations required.

A similar program is in place for Saturday nights, which has been deemed Parents Night Out. In this case, reservations are required, but for $30 is good for 3 1/2 hours of childcare, which includes dinner and snacks.