Indoor playground question

amother

NeonPink

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:19 am

We have a few. They’re $20 a kid, and we only go on special occasions. One of them has a 10 visit punch card for $150 and we’re most likely to choose that one, both because the price is better and because they don’t charge for adults.

We’ve considered memberships, but most of them make you do memberships for a full year and my kids don’t care for 1 place for that long- I would do a 3-4 month membership though. Or a punchcard you can use at whatever pace you want.

Some other things to think about- what age do you start charging for babies (I hate having to pay for a baby who’s only going to play for 10 min, but he wants to get out and run around for those 10 min. ).

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 6:19 am

Someone mentioned there is a place in the works in Lakewood. Does anyone know more about that?

And to the another who was working on this in Monsey, I’m assuming you were headed to the marketplace? I heard there’s a kid empire opening there , unless that isn’t happening in the end?
I’m so curious what you have planned!!

My kids are a bit past this age but I remember back when I would take my kids to these places. I have strong feelings just like the rest of you- Dont charge for babies that are rly too little, Dont charge for parents, make it affordable so I can come more often!…. I get it. And I want to make it happen.

I am a bit discouraged by that another who had it in the plans and decided not to go ahead. I def Dont want to make a mistake but I feel like there is a real real need. I know I needed better options when my kids were younger and I know my nieces and nephews could benefit greatly

kollel_wife

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 6:53 am

I'm a grandmother, in Lakewood, but I think it could be very helpful for mother's with little kids on the cold winter afternoons, but especially Sundays.

There's also days the kids get out early, mid-winter, things like that. I have a daughter who's a single mother, with one child, she were love such a thing. Even in the summer. I think there's a need for ages 5-10 as well, but the place needs to have a enough diversity to be worth coming back again & again. I can't see going to Sky Zone every Sunday, even though maybe there are some that do.

amother

Dustypink ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 8:55 am

I don't live in NY but I used to take my kids to this type of place. Usually ball pool and climbing type place. Some have additional things like laser tag, bowling, pottery painting. Maybe you can combine a trampoline park for older kids and indoor playground for younger kids.

I think a lot of them make money off the food.

A birthday party includes food, party bags, play. Not necessarily organised actitivites.

One near me that catered to kids under 8 or 9 used to have toddler groups during the week.

Charge less money for off peak times.

Insurance can be a lot of money.

amother

Caramel ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 9:17 am

Young mother of an 18 month old.
I live in Israel so wouldn't be able to come, but I was a kid not that long ago, and now a mother of a young kid.

I would pay up to $15 for 2 hours. Not sure If I would need longer than that, as kids lose patience fast, so 2 hours would be great IMO

A membership would definitely be a greart option, maybe at $15 a month + $5 per kid? So $25 for a fam with two kids, etc

Here's what I would love it to look like, though I am not sure how realistic this is in terms of space

For the younger kids( 18 mo- 5 yr):
A track (set up like a street painted on the floor) with tricycles would be a hit!
A ball pit
slides

For the medium sized kids (6 yr- 9 yrs):
BIG slides
A zipline!! (theres a place in atlanta ga that is a therapy place, but open on the weekends to the public. As a kid, I LOVED that zipline!)
A BIGGER ball pit (like the color factory in nyc), maybe with some slides going into it

For the older kids (9+ yrs):
A small gym with goals, balls, space to run around and be wild

For birthday parties, it would be great if there were different package options.
You can have Basic that includes 45 min of play and then 1/2 hr party room and that's it
Silver includes the same + the cake and pizza and goodie bags
Gold includes all of the above + a clown or something like that

Also love the mommy and me idea for during the week. And that can be done during school hours when the place is likely to be emptier.

If you can use the gym for sports groups/ lessons that can bring in some income

And would be really nice if for +$10 on the membership you could come to mommy and me classes that month!

Not sure how realistic any of this is, more just throwing out ideas of what would draw me to come again and again

Hope this is somewhat helpful!

amother

Aconite

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 9:43 am

Skyzone/ urban air in Lakewood definitely look like they have a lot of business, but their monthly memberships cost the equivalentof one visit. About $30/month, 6 month min. The membership is not unlimited, rather 90min/weekday, 60min on weekends (I think).

I bought memberships a few years from pesach to sukkos and it was great, but with several kids it does add up. I liked that I could drop off my preteens, I didn't have to stay. Older kids liked that there were games (dodgeball, something else?) so they never got bored of going.

I do want to throw out that a business model that works in the secular world doesn't always work in the frum world, as our family sizes, cultures and mentalities are often different.

Someone once told me that he invested in a kosher gym and it didn't work out, even though it was quite busy. He did a lot of research and this is what he came out with:

The gym business model relies on many memberships. They enroll many members around new years when ppl are inspired to change. Most people come a few times and slowly drift off (change is hard! Smile

) Cost to renewal they offer a good deal to renew and the member feels guilty/remotivated, so renews, in a continuous cycle. Financially, the gym relies on a lot of passive income, without having to provide services.

In the kosher gym, however, members registered, and members attended! There were hardly any passive/guilt memberships. The amount of money it cost to service such a large number of users (think staff, classes, wear and tear, utilities...) ate up all profits.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 9:56 am

I SO appreciate everybody’s advice and ideas.

I really really have big dreams for this, and I really want to make it happen, but I also don’t want to be dumb and go into debt! I want it to be the place that I wish existed when my kids were that age, when I desperately needed somewhere to go on those long Sundays in the very hot summer or the freezing cold winter. (Those Kollel wives won’t need their husbands home early on Sunday bc they’ll be busy at this place!!)

I understand that The Jewish family works differently than the non-Jewish clientele, but I so value, and I’m sure many of you could agree to this, a place that is fully Jewish in value and a place that my kids are comfortable with the music and my husband and boys feel comfortable. No, I am not going to impose a dress code or any of that and yes everybody is accepted, but you understand the idea. I know a big day of business is Saturday so I’m not sure what to do about that aside from the winter Saturday nights

I would love for it to be a place that even dates would feel comfortable going through the business. Can keep the business going even at night.

I’d be happy to offer food, perhaps join with a food business. Chuck E. Cheese style, perhaps (food wise, not the games)

I feel so strongly about this I’m not so sure why. I never had a need it like this when I was a kid, but then again it was simpler times . It would be a place people would travel to from all different communities. Schools will take their school trips here and daycares would come as well.

But as I am putting the numbers together, I feel like it’s not possible. I have always been one to play it very safe. I am not a big risk taker but I keep on saying if the people who dream is big what have been worried about taking the risk we would’ve been missing out on so much in the world. I feel like the world needs this, and it’s my contribution to the world. And then again, maybe I’m just a dreamer who will go into debt and regret it.

Life coach, anyone? Lol

amother

Butterscotch

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 10:13 am

I looked into visiting a place like this in Brooklyn on Chol Hamoed.
I don't remember for sure but the price was about $20 per kid, for 1 hour ($30 for 2 hours). $5 for a treat sold on premises. I couldn't justify the price and didn't visit. I would be taking 2 kids for $40 (plus treats probably) and there would still be an entire day left with nothing to do.

My kids day camp took them to that place and they loved it.

amother

Linen ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 10:13 am

I didn't read the whole thread yet.
I live in South Lakewood and I would love something like this. If there would be a reasonable monthly membership for babies/toddlers with weekly mommy and me classes I would absolutely go 1-2 times a week at least with my babies. If I could use the membership on Sundays also for the baby and then pay say $15 for 1.5 hours for each of my older kids I would take the older ones at least once a month. No entrance fee for parents.
I would love sensory play activities as my kids need lots of sensory input and I don't have space in my house for swings and crash pads and zip lines or whatever.
Maybe adding optional classes every so often would work too. So let's say the first Sunday of the month there's a painting class (separate cost). I would pay the $15 for my non artistic kids to go jump and play and pay the $15 for my daughter to go to the art class. And the next month I would have my other kid join the woodworking class or whatever while the first kid plays. But I would not want to pay for the kids to play if they're only doing the classes. However I'm not sure if that could be enforced.
Regarding serving food, it's a nice idea but as a mom of a child with severe allergies, that might put me off from going there unless there is some way to ensure that the food is in a fully separate room with closed doors and large signs and sinks before entering the play space to wash hands.

amother

Dimgray ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 10:23 am

Im a Lakewood mom of kids toddlers to teens.

Id love a place with separate sections including activities for over 10. (Skating, bowling, zip lining, obstacle course).

What would make it even more appealing to me is if at least on weekends, vacations, Chol Hamoed, there were separate hours in the older kid areas.
For example girls get the skating and boys the obstacle course from 12-3 then they switch.
It's the biggest reason why I don't bring my family - because my tweens and teens sit there and don't want to do stuff because my 13 year old DS doesn't want to go skating with a bunch teenage girls.

amother

Lightpink

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 10:27 am

OP It's a lovely idea, but I worry like you do that it won't be lucrative.
I don't know how much capital you are starting with, but there needs to be way more than funding to get the place set up and open. You need to have enough for upkeep and maintenance as well as for payroll. I would say for at least the first year. Most businesses do not start turning profit till the 2nd year, and some longer than that. (And obviously some shorter than that if it's a business that doesn't require much investment)

amother

↑ Orchid

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 12:48 pm

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?

I actually wanted it specifically for Monday-Friday. I work full time and wanted after school activity to be something kids could use energy but I don't have to run after them Smile

However, since the location was mostly targeting non-Jews, going during a frum school vacation (eg: chol hamoed) was the same as any other weekday: no extra fee, no crowds.

amother

Eggshell ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 1:23 pm

I live in lakewood and all my kollel co workers and friends complain about winter afternoons.
If there was an indoor place to take their 2-4 little kids they'd for sure go if it wasn't too crazy expensive. Like maybe $12 for one kid, $8 for each addition sibling...

They'd specifically hate a place where they'd have to be running after their toddler or having to help them. They'd want a place where they can sit and watch. So an enclosed playground type

My friend lives in another state and she has a place nearby with a literal playground, and an area with bikes and riding toys...like a park but indoors because it's so cold

I think a monthly or yearly membership would be a good model

I think if it's for multiple ages it should be very separate
I'd only go if it would be easy to keep track of my toddler and not too busy. There would have to be a limit of how many kids at a time

I've thought of opening such a place but I believe the expenses are so high, I don't see how it'd be very profitable. Hatzlacha! If you open in lakewood me and my friends would definitely check if out