Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Parents in Hays County will soon be able to enjoy an hour or two of relaxation, while their children play at the brand new Bright Imaginations Play Cafe.
The idea started when Kyle resident Samantha Turner moved to the city a few years ago with a young toddler and quickly noticed the lack of options.
“When I moved here, I had a two year old and I realized that there’s not much in Hays County to do with my child that’s indoors. I was like, ‘Okay. So, I’m having to travel 30 minutes or so to take my son to go do things’ and, as a mom, you don’t really want to travel 30 minutes with your child to have to go do something,” explained Turner, adding that there are great park options, but with the Texas heat, that’s not always a viable choice.
The limited amenities and her ability to work from home led her to asking her mother — who has previous experience as a business owner — if she would be interested in collaborating on a play cafe, where community members could either get work done or relax, while their children had an area to play in.
“So, parents can come and get a coffee or a tea, pastries and they can enjoy something for themselves also, while their kids are playing. So, it’s bringing a Starbucks and an indoor play space together,” said Turner.
The search for property to achieve this dream was difficult, Turner continued, as her real estate agent kept pushing her to move toward Austin, but she stood her ground, emphasizing that the building needed to be in Kyle or Buda to prevent yet another amenity being located outside of Hays County.
The cafe will be located in Kyle and have a small playscape inside, consisting of several slides and imaginative play areas. These will include a grocery store and a doctor’s office, as well as a magnetic wall area. Ages targeted are from zero to 8 years old, as there is a dedicated toddler zone for zero to 18 months, but it will offer opportunities for older children to play if they are interested or are there with a sibling.
Separated by a gate, so children will not be running around, will be the cafe area for the adults. The locally supplied cafe will host specialty lattes, cold brews, coffee, teas and fresh-made croissants, danishes and other pastries.
Because of safety, there will be a limit of approximately 20 children per two-hour session, with an hour in the morning strictly for toddlers, said Turner, which parents and caretakers will be able to sign up for online.
“I’m really honestly hoping that it brings more community, that it’s just a space that parents or caregivers can come and feel at home. I know, as a mom myself and especially when I moved here, I knew no one and so, just having somewhere that I could go and I knew was going to be a safe environment for my child [was important],” Turner emphasized.
Bright Imaginations Play Cafe will be located at 5695 Kyle Parkway, Suite 140, and is aiming to open to community members in February. For more information and updates, visit www.brightimaginationsplaycafe.com or follow on Facebook.
