The just-opened Playdate Café in Lynnwood is the new hot spot for moms – a “third place” for parents with young children, offering top notch coffee and teas, a healthy menu, classes and activities, and a giant play space geared toward little ones ages 6 and younger.
Playdate Café is conveniently located just south of Alderwood Mall, minutes from I-5. As I walked in with my 3-year-old daughter the day of our first visit, we were greeted by Lizz Quain, Playdate Café’s owner and entrepreneur. She kindly welcomed us and shared the ground rules.
As I looked around Playdate Café, I was immediately impressed. Having three kids, I’ve spent many hours with other moms in small cafés, crowded gyms and various other play spaces, and I appreciate the well-planned layout and atmosphere.
The café’s guidelines for conduct are firm but welcome, and show the level of respect they expect from their patrons. The number one priority: Be responsible for your child’s conduct and keep hands clean and food and shoes out of the play area. (Drinks with lids are allowed.) I value the emphasis they place on maintaining a clean, well-organized play environment.
Playdate Café is in its soft opening stage. The sign on the front of the building is still on its way, and there are still café seating arrangements being made, but those minor details are overshadowed by the cleanliness of the space, the welcoming staff and the vast play area.
The play space is bordered with a long counter that provides lots of room for catching up with friends, or your email, while giving you full view of your child’s activities. I came in, found a cozy spot and felt relaxed while my child played – a big plus. The whimsical décor inspires creative play, but is also sophisticated and inviting to moms.
The cubby space that lines the play area entrance was large, and there was plenty of room for shoes and coats the afternoon of our visit. I did learn from talking with several moms that mornings tend to get crowded at the café, while afternoons are quieter.
My daughter, Kiana, was ready to play. She allowed me to walk around for a minute to get my bearings, find the bathroom and diaper changing area before dragging me over to the cubbies. Within seconds she had her shoes stored and was holding the hand sanitizer for me. “Mom, remember you need to clean your hands.”
With the gate opened and a new adventure in front of her, she stood and surveyed her choices. There were so many. Did she want to bounce in the bouncy house? Create a play on stage? Dress up as a pirate or fireman, or direct traffic from the oncoming foot-powered cars? She eyed the puzzle table. Winding her way through the moving vehicles, she stepped up to the table and dug in.
While Kiana played about, I settled in for a chance to talk with Quain, a tall, beautiful, charismatic mom of twin girls. After spending 20 years away from Seattle working in the high-end magazine publishing industry, her roots brought her back. The arrival of her twins opened a new door to the world of PEPS and other moms groups, and emphasized the importance of these support groups for building community and sharing experiences.
Her mind was already working. She wrote a business plan. She also developed an international Facebook group of play cafés to help facilitate the sharing of ideas and challenges, which has been invaluable in developing her space. She found her passion and has thrown her heart and soul into this endeavor.
After three years, 15 different banks and looks at the eastside and north end, Quain received funding and this 8500-square-foot space became available.
“Lynnwood is the crossroads of I-5 and I-405,” said Quain. “It was really an easy decision once my business mentor and I researched the area. There are about 61,000 kids ages 6 and younger living within a 15-minute drive, we are easy to reach and there is a need.”
“I was SO happy when I learned Playdate Café was opening!” exclaimed one Lynnwood mom as we slid down the firehouse slides with our kids.
A North Seattle mom, who was seven months pregnant, quipped, “My daughter plays happily for hours here. I am at a point where I just want to sit, and we can get a healthy lunch; it’s not just snack food.”
Playdate Café offers a good, healthy menu, and has partnered with many local vendors such as Caffé Ladro, Blazing Bagels, High 5 Pies and, for families of children with allergies, Little Rae’s Nut Free Bakery. There are also fresh salads, soups and panini made in-house daily.
My daughter and I decided on the house quiche, a ham and cheese croissant, applesauce and a latte for mom. The food took a few minutes to be heated and served. When it arrived, though, Kiana was hungry and loved every bite of the quiche and croissant we shared. It is always a relief when they eat well. She was ready to head back in to play afterward.
Quain has great plans for the future of her new space, including more birthday parties and a morning preschool. Playdate Café will be offering classes soon, too, including Stroller Strides, cooking, arts and crafts, and dance classes.
“I want Playdate Café to be the third place for families with small children,” said Quain. “Playdate Café is a place to play, eat, celebrate, learn and connect with your community.”
And that is exactly what we did.
