Indoor playground question

amother

Yellow ↓

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:21 pm

amother Clematis wrote:

If you are in Lakewood, one is really lacking. I would say up to $12, but a reduced rate with a family of 4+. Ice cream kids was great, but they didn't maintain the place. It takes a lot of effort to replace or fix broken and missing items. I also liked that they had roller skating and arcades for the older kids.

I miss Ice Cream Kids. I went about every once in three weeks. Yes if there was one in Lakewood I would utilize it!

gilamom

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:23 pm

I went recently to a newer one in NYC, look up The Complete Playground for ideas. I really liked that it was for older kids too, they had tons of cool gymnastic equipment and a small area for rock climbing and another for a video game type of thing besides for all the usual slides and play areas that you normally see for little kids. It really worked for us as a family with a wide range of ages.
Another way to bring in income during the week is to arrange Mommy and Me classes.

amother

Lemonchiffon

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:27 pm

Complete playground is AMAZING because it has something for every type of kid. For the toddler, for the sensory kid upstairs there was a section, for the techy kid , for the kid that likes to climb but is very pricy could be because the rent in manhattan is insane and for such large place even more. For a frum family it must be affordable to be sustainable. Else honestly how much can ppl pay? I would pay not more than 15 at most per kid and that is only because I have two children.

amother

Mimosa

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:40 pm

amother OP wrote:

Yes business idea. Someone presented it to me recently with a very large sum of money to invest in it. He said I should do my research and see if I can make it happen.. and he’ll support it. Yikes!

So this is the start of my research.

I need places that is lacking such a thing.

Of course a place for toddlers only. And a bigger place for bigger kids. I have loads of ideas to make this bigger better and different than any indoor playground you’ve ever seen. But I can’t give all that info away here. Just trust me.

Now I need how much you’d be willing to spend?
Monthly membership?
Would you go during the week?
What if it was special pricing for weekday?
How else can I be profitable during the week?
I don’t really want to do classes but I do think it’s a good idea. Just not for the type of place I’m envisioning.
Locations?
Give me whatever you got

I’m very curious about your circumstances. Why would a mysterious benefactor hand you a large amount of money for a project that doesn’t seem to be your expertise?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:45 pm

amother Mimosa wrote:

I’m very curious about your circumstances. Why would a mysterious benefactor hand you a large amount of money for a project that doesn’t seem to be your expertise?

Love the curiosity.

It’s not as random as it sounds. I’m just clearly leaving out details for the sake of privacy. But what I wrote is the basic idea. And he’s by far handing it over. There’s good reason he’s asking me

Love the rest of the ideas from everyone else. Keep it coming. Any reference to anything is helpful for me.

amother

Pistachio ↓

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:47 pm

We looked into opening such a place last year. We wanted to be in a shopping mall so that we have more foot traffic.

We had a business plan down pat, as well as a location. We also got a pre-approval for a very large SBA loan, but the numbers did not add up. We would've had between 60-80k expenses per month (which includes SBA payments) and
In order for us to make money we would've needed an average of 400 admissions per week, at $25-$30 per admission. Its almost impossible to reach that number, unless you are solid booked with parties, which is a whole additional business. We gave up on it, and im glad we did because the mall we wanted to be in isnt as busy as we thought it'll be.

(Hi to those who recognize me 😉)

Im so grateful it didn't work out because we would've gotten ourselves into insane debt had we gone ahead with it.

Were working on a different business now that needs a way lower investment and sounds a lot more promising. Tyh

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:55 pm

I so appreciate all that info!! Can I ask what type of place you were going to open up and in which city?

I’m worried about the numbers also. That’s what I’m trying to figure out here.

My place would be an experience. Not simply a playground. But making it an experience would cost a significant amount

amother

↑ Pistachio ↓

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 10:59 pm

amother OP wrote:

We were going to open in monsey, and we also wanted to make it an experience. We had massive plans, but the amount we wouldve need to invest made no sense next to the projected income.

amother

Gardenia

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 11:11 pm

I live in Minnesota and they are BIG business here.
We go every couple of months - not enough to justify a membership imo. Our favorite park is probably the biggest and it’s $12 for a day pass. I won’t go to the ones that are more than $20.

Personally I don’t like the ones that have the enclosed PVC climbing structures; they’re too hard for little kids to manage. I prefer the kind that have an indoor version of a real playground, soft play/toddler area, ball court, bikes, etc.

Cookin4days

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 11:15 pm

Sweet spot play house opened up in Brooklyn few months back, all my friends go. I work full time so I can’t but maybe see their pricing etc .. I know it’s for babies and toddlers only though but good to see ideas also also CLEANLINESS will take you VERY VERY far.

effess

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 11:17 pm

Perhaps think about activities that an ot would use. Lots of sensory stuff. It can be a place where therapists can work with the kids. There are so many kids who can benefit from those activities and equipment.

Perhaps an obstacle course type thing is great for older kids with a smaller version for youngers. I second the mommy and me idea.

Think about a large family. Say six kids, it’s only worth $15+ if they can be busy for a while. If they get bored after an hour then not more than $10.
I like the membership idea by the month, so I wouldn’t pay in the summer.

I used to take my kids to an indoor playground that was super cheap, and certain sections had a price. That worked out well for us. We only paid for the kids who used that section.

amother

Nemesia

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 11:21 pm

If you are doing it in Lakewood area, you would get tons of business from the special needs community ( especially if you give them a discount) . Parents and volunteers are always looking for affordable and nearby places to take their kids especially in the winter.

amother

↑ Yellow

Mon, Jan 06 2025, 11:49 pm

Sky Zone / Climb Zone / Urban Air in Lakewood charge by the hour a fortune. You could for sure charge same prices as them. And they're up and running. Seems like business is doing well if they didn't close down.
Also, I would LOVE if it could have a section with tables and fresh Kosher food for sale. Like hot pizza, etc

amother

Bluebonnet

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:02 am

A few years ago my sister in Lakewood was living in a small one bedroom with two toddlers and was desperate for a place to take them after playgroup.
She was going to buy a membership at Climb Zone but the youngest age was to young for her daughter.
while she was in Baltimore her mother in law took her to a playroom set up for toddlers, she was trying to find something like that closer to Lakewood but could not find anything.

amother

Valerian

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:09 am

Lakewood could really use such a place. Would definitely go. I’ve been building an awesome indoor playground in my head I just have absolutely no idea where or how to start so nothing will ever come of it lol.

amother

Honeydew ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:34 am

amother OP wrote:

I’ve been to places where the toddler section is respected. Yes someone older would accompany them but it doesn’t turn into an older kid space. Somehow it works. Wouldn’t be a different room, just a different section.

I’ve been to turtleboo years ago. Would be totally different in every way from it. Would love to speak to the owner

Look at catch airs model, they have older and younger climbing areas. And maybe throw in Dave & Busters style arcades for older kids/adults and then people can even come for date nights there.
Think kosher food like pizza etc. like Kids n Action in BP. A ride or 2/3 would be cool but those are probably harder to maintain plus need individual staff, although you can charge an extra fee for those.

New place I saw advertised for PA https://www.candylandadventure.com/

amother

↑ Nutmeg ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:44 am

amother OP wrote:

I would specifically go during the week after school. A membership is probably cheaper and I’d need it to be cheap as I would go 1-2 times a week. Don’t need classes as my kids are young. Monsey please

amother

↑ Nutmeg

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:45 am

amother OP wrote:

What if it was $10/15 per month but only on weekdays? Weekends and holidays would be more.. would that entice you? Or weekdays are just not needed?

definitely enticing!

amother

Raspberry

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 3:43 am

I sometimes watch videos from sienna who owns an indoor playroom.
It's called Grandmas playroom I think it's in Arizona but not sure. She gives alot of information on her YouTube shorts.

Remember everything costs alot to upkeep and depending on how much space you have there is a legal amount of kids you can have on premises because of fire regulations.

Hatzlocha!