Indoor playground question

amother

↑ Honeydew ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 1:49 pm

amother NeonPink wrote:

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. ).

Love the idea of a punch card.

And yes please don’t charge us for the parents who are obviously just supervising. Although if you’ll have arcades I’ll gladly pay for the arcades since I love arcades.

I think babies should start from age 1 or at least 6-9 months when they’re crawling if the space is age appropriate for them to crawl around in and not get crushed by older kids.

amother

Mauve

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:15 pm

There’s an indoor playground / climbing place at ocean county mall (near Lakewood). I go a few times a year. It’s $20/kid. My oldest kid is 11 and has no interest.

I had a similar issue at IScream kids. It was per kid (maybe $16? Or more ). My kids lost interest around 8 years old but I still had to pay for admission for them to sit next to me on the bench and complain. Then they tooo away the skating area (which had been included) and added an arcade that was pay for play. I had already paid for my kid to come in and now I had to pay for games separately (compare to a typical arcade… no admission fee , pay per game). I once went with just my youngest at the time. Maybe she was 3? 2.5? She couldn’t climb up by herself despite being very tall so I had to climb through the whole thing with her. Not easy lol.

I would just pay very close attention to what ages you’re catering to. Do you really think 13 year old girls are going to want to go to an indoor playground ? Even boys it’s a lot to keep their attention at that age.

If this were catered towards the under 10 crowd I’d pay whatever but my frequency depends on the price . If it’s $20 I’d go a few times a year. And if it’s as low as $10 I’d go probably every other week on average. I would prefer to go on weekday for now.

amother

Periwinkle

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:35 pm

I'm from the UK so my advice might not be right for you, and my kids are now too big but what I see here is places are much cheaper during school hours, so it becomes a place for non-working moms to bring their kids and socialise, and it costs more during peak hours, but still not expensive. Some places are unlimited time, most is pay for 1 and half hours but if its quiet they let you stay longer (As a parent, I understand that I have only paid for an hour and half, but it feels good to get 2 hours, and it doesnt cost them more if the place is not full anyway). The ones I went to all had different areas for different ages/different activities that were well gated so safe for little ones.

Mommy and me type of groups during the day would also bring the crowds in.

In Manchester we had a kosher one for a while that offered supper and play for a good price weekday evenings(I think it was £10 per kid for 1 and half hours, food included). Kids meal deal was a choice of hot dog, slice of pizza or (cant remember what) with small fries and a drink (juice box).

Please make affordable options for food that you sell. Not everything has to be cheap, I get that you make more money on the more expensive items but as a parent who is watching the pennies, it bothers me when I feel like I've been pulled in by the reasonable prices of entry but buying a simple bottle of water costs a fortune, and there is nothing on the cheaper end.

amother

Clear

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:36 pm

Op- I would speak to one of these companies that opens franchises. They'll be the most experienced in terms of pitfalls and what works and what doesn't. I live in Baltimore and there are companies that franchise. I would also see if the owners of the Lakewood one that closed will talk to you. That would be your best source of info. With these types of places there's normally one area that you make ur money. I doubt it's on the hourly rate.

amother

NeonOrange

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 2:46 pm

Didn’t read all the posts but were are you all going for $10-15 per child???? I live in Brooklyn and places near me are $25 per child for 2 hrs of play some a little more and this is for toddlers a 5 year old is a little big for those places
And I’ve been to maybe 6-7 places in diff locations and all around $25
Op Honestly in the winter I would pay like $150 for 2-3 kids for a membership including weekends and preferable if also unlimited play so on Sunday I can come for 3 hrs and during the week I would come by for 45 min

mushkamothers

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 3:20 pm

amother OP wrote:

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

Check out https://www.michelecaruana.com/

amother

Watermelon

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 3:42 pm

amother OP wrote:

It costs a lot to maintain these places and to upkeep all the toys. I don’t understand how people expect them to charge $5-10 when they have to pay rent, electricity, employees and bring home a profit A lot of these playgrounds also make money from mommy and me classes and parties. It’s normal to pay $20-30 a child. No place would survive charging $10 a child

amother

↑ Pistachio ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 3:52 pm

amother OP wrote:

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

I'm the amother that was working on this last year. Yes, it was the marketplace. We had multiple meetings with them, and they didn't trust we'll make money, because as a frum business we can't be open on shabbos. They didnt want to take us as tenants unless we put a ridiculous amount of money into escrow. We had an investor that wanted to work with us, but it was way too risky due to multiple factors (and I am a risk taker by nature). Im really grateful it didnt work out, because I believe we wouldve gotten into insane debt with no way out.

They ended up taking sky zone and kids empire as tenants, the main reason being that they are not frum owned business and they can operate on shabbos. 80-90% of business happens on shabbos in the entertainment industry.

There is a place opening in lakewood. The owner of headway in boro park is opening it, but she's doing it on a way smaller scale than I wanted to do it, so im sure it won't be as costly.

If you do decide to go ahead with doing it PLEASE do plenty of research, because I dont see how a place like this can make a profit without being open on shabbos.

amother

↑ Honeydew ↓

Tue, Jan 07 2025, 4:29 pm

amother Mauve wrote:

If it’s the kind of place where you can have someone not allow the older kids into the soft play area or if the older kids want to go in they need a wristband then maybe instead of a wristband they get a $10/arcade credit. So you’re still making money from each kid but parents don’t feel like they’re paying for an older kid to just sit around doing nothing.