The neon sign still hangs outside the former Motley Menagerie on Center Street in Kyle, but a new business is opening that caters to a much younger crowd. (photos by Veronica Gordon)
by VERONICA GORDON
The Motley Menagerie at 602 W. Center Street is officially closed and a day care center is going up in its place. The tea room’s sandwiches and quiche are being replaced with milk and cookies, rattles and playpens. And that’s exactly how former owner Darleen Motley wanted it.
Motley, who owned the tea room since 2003, said she came to a turning point in her life recently and decided to close the restaurant.
“It was an awesome experience and I met so many wonderful people,” Motley said. “But there just comes a time and you decide not to do it anymore.”
Motley still owns the house, but wanted to lease it out. When she found someone wanting to start a day care at the location, she knew it would be a perfect solution.
“I had the best customers,” Motley said. “And I saw babies grow up to be children over the years there. I wanted to be very careful about who leased the house, and when I was approached about the day care, I thought it was a win-win situation. It also honors my mother Olga’s memory. She was a teacher for 31 years, so it makes me feel good that there will be children there.”
New tenant Jenna Martinez of Kyle has been in child care for 13 years. Until recently, she was the director of the child care center at Hays CISD. She took care of other parents’ children during the day and missed out on attending her two children’s events.
Martinez decided that she wanted to be able to take care of her own 3-year-old and 6-year-old children while still working. That’s when she had the idea to branch out on her own and open a day care center herself. She calls her business “Laugh and Learn Mother’s Day Out Day Care
“I thought this way, by opening my own business, I could have more time with my kids,” Martinez said.
Martinez said she found the former cafe to be a great location for the business because of the amenities it included. The location was another bonus for her business plan, she said.
“I’d been looking at this place for a while,” she said. “It’s perfect. It’s in a great spot. And it has a lot of what the state requires for a day care to have. It has a fenced yard, a kitchen and bathrooms, just like a house. And the house is green and purple outside. What could be more perfect for a child care center?”
While Martinez is keeping the paint color the same on the exterior, the interior needed a more child-friendly decor.
“The colors were a little dark and intimate,” she said. “So we made them bright and cheerful.”
Last Saturday, Martinez’s family was getting in on the action by helping her with the remodel and redecorating.
“I’m so excited for her,” said Martinez’s mother Diane Miller. “I wanted to help with anything I could do. Her brothers are here, too.”
Martinez said the handmade stage that was used for live performances in the tea room, will now be used by children playing dress-up.
“Right now, it’s my daughter’s favorite place,” Martinez said. “She loves to get on it and sing.”
Martinez said the fully licensed day care will provide services for children ages 6 weeks to five years. Parents can enroll their children in classes two or three days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’ll have a full curriculum of child development activities,” Martinez said. “We will have a staff of four teachers for a low child-to-teacher ratio.”
The picnic tables on the back deck will be used for painting, crafts and other activities, Martinez said.
“I’m all about learning through play and getting messy,” she added.
While many people miss the Motley Menagerie, Martinez is hoping to have community support. She plans to add classes for the public such as Zumba, yoga and music lessons.
“I love Kyle,” Martinez said. “I want to be part of the community.”
Martinez is planning an open house Aug. 18 for parents to learn more about the business and take a tour of the house.
