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Permalink Reply by nohoana on November 6, 2011 at 2:54am

Some good points on a similar topic on cf

http://www.coffeeforums.com/forum/coffee-shops-espresso-bars-cafes/...

I haven't seen anything like that, at least where I live.
Just keep in mind how niche you are going on what percentage of potential customers you may be alienating.

Best of luck and keep us posted

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Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on November 6, 2011 at 5:42am

While this is exactly the same model as you're considering, you should contact Tim Noble at Town Hall Coffee in Philadelphia.  Tim has a shop with a dedicated childrens area, programs designed for mothers (and fathers), serves excellent coffee and works with an educated demographic.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk on November 6, 2011 at 8:59am

While we will be kid friendly, we won't do it at the expense of other customers.
This isn't a fun house that serves coffee - but a coffee house that has a separated play are for kids of some of our patrons.

nohoana said:

Some good points on a similar topic on cf http://www.coffeeforums.com/forum/coffee-shops-espresso-bars-cafes/...

I haven't seen anything like that, at least where I live.
Just keep in mind how niche you are going on what percentage of potential customers you may be alienating.

Best of luck and keep us posted

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Spence on November 8, 2011 at 7:19am

Kirk this is a concept i'm hearing more about.  Two of my current customers are doing this now.  Playgrounds in Glendale Az just opened up and is doing something similar as is Four Kids Coffee in Massillon Oh.   (By the way - Ed Viser from Cafe Design & Architecture helped out with the Playgrounds and is familiar with this type of store.  They are great to work with).

 

This is one of those ideas that requires the right demographic to work.  Also, figuring out how you can safely handle the kids while Mom and her friends have coffee can be a challenge.  Some of these stores charge a fee for the play area and then have it supervised etc.  

Good luck! 

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Permalink Reply by Brady on November 9, 2011 at 6:07am

You are smart to be doing research on the particulars of this concept early. As a former stay-at-home dad I've spent a bit of time in places that attempted to achieve the indoor separate play area. None have achieved good enough separation to make the non-play area a place I'd choose to spend time in without my son.

 

More background: My family's shop has always been family-friendly, reaching out to Moms' groups and providing a welcoming environment for kids - including a variety of stuff for them to keep themselves entertained. Many parents have reacted positively, and many use the space responsibly. Sadly, a very large number have not. I've worked enough shifts on "Mom's group day" to expect chaos to ensue... and the rest of the customers to head for the door when it does. Expect the same lack of consideration that we see when it comes to outside food, wifi abuse, and general lack of consideration for other people, and have a plan to respond when it happens.

 

Remember also that anyone coming in to your space will have certain expectations about how things will work at a "kid friendly" place. This will be based on hours spent in places like McDonalds, Chick-fil-a, local bookstore story times, etc. This is relevant, cause you're going to have to figure out how to modify or accommodate those behaviors.

 

That's clearly your big challenge - designing the space and developing policies that will help create the atmosphere you describe. Frankly, I think its going to be hard to pull off. When parents meet for coffee, they often want to be separated from their kids playing together as much as they can get away with. They will probably not lounge in an "isolation area", but will park in a common area so they can watch. This insures a steady stream of little ones coming in because "someone isn't playing nice" or "their sock is twisted funny". That's what I recall from lunches at Chick-fil-a. I'm sure you'll do better than they will... my question is, how?

 

An additional challenge with policy-related issues... mommies groups are frighteningly well networked. If one member of your staff yells at someone's kid for climbing the bookcase they're all gonna know it that afternoon. You're going to be highly dependent on this demographic, so remember - if you piss them off, you're done for.

 

I'm sure none of this is new to you. You've probably already spent lots of time hanging out where your target demographic current does. You know all of this already, and have a good plan to deal with these challenges. My question for you is, how? I'm asking more out of curiosity than anything else... cause I think it is a neat concept that could do well if properly executed.

 

Kirk said:

While we will be kid friendly, we won't do it at the expense of other customers.
This isn't a fun house that serves coffee - but a coffee house that has a separated play are for kids of some of our patrons.

nohoana said:

Some good points on a similar topic on cf http://www.coffeeforums.com/forum/coffee-shops-espresso-bars-cafes/...

I haven't seen anything like that, at least where I live.
Just keep in mind how niche you are going on what percentage of potential customers you may be alienating.

Best of luck and keep us posted

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Permalink Reply by Mike Spence on November 9, 2011 at 6:53am

Brady raises some good points here.  My conversations with other people looking at this concept seem to indicate that most people are keeping the play area as a membership or paid option that is supervised with activities or play items.  More of a children's museum than a McDonalds type of thing.  The goal for the other people was to create a space where the child could go on a playdate or just have fun but not be wandering around the rest of the cafe.  

 

Kirk, I think we are all interested in seeing what you develop! 

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