OK…so I ramble a bit this morning and have “spoken in ”woman” talk to get to a point (meaning it takes me a bit to get there…LOL) so for anyone who likes people to get straight to the point (because I can be that way sometimes too) jump down to where the font changes…
Course I’ve been wanting to do this for a couple of years and have looked into various types of cafe/bookstores. I wanted to do something that peeked my interest since I would be here all the time and wanted to enjoy my experience. I wanted to do something that I could involve my entire family in as well as inspire to community to feel closer.I have found my niche for my future cafe/bookstore…It’s revolved around community and parents…parents need the opportunity to be supported by other parents in the community, we as a community need to uplift each other and support our endeavors and have the chance to nourish ourselves intellectually with other adult interaction while the kiddies receive nourishment of imagination and thought too…imagine this…
· Parents gathering in a relaxed plush atmosphere while kids play in an indoor play space (even offer tutoring during the after school hours).
· Space is furnished with artwork and furniture by local creators to help get their name out (maybe even sell artwork on the walls). Even get the kids to draw “portraits” for the kid space with miniture versions of adult furniture.
· Coffee/tea/water served alongside pastries/salads/sandwiches/fruit to encourage healthier eating.
· Food is purchased from the local community.
· Cups/mugs are sold and parents are given the incentive to bring them back for refills at a hefty discount.
· Meeting rooms are offered to any parents who wish to reserve space.
· Free WiFi is offered for those parents who love to blog, attend online classes, or even work.
· Local authors by selling their books along with other best-selling novels
· Play passes can be purchased for crawlers to 10 in day, week, month, and year segments as well as job bartering (for example web design support for free play)
It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. ~Joyce Maynard
Your thoughts? What do you think? Is there anything you wish was available as well? I’m all ears as I work this plan. So far…I’ve not found a similar niche in the Raleigh area…
You have a wonderful idea here. We (me and my family) are a group of readers. All my kids read on a daily basis. I love coffee and books, but for the most part, these two items don’t mix well with kids.
If you go into a traditional place like Borders Books that has a coffee shop as well, it is not kid friendly. This makes it hard for me as a mom, coffee addict and book-lover! I think you would do so well to set up a book/coffee/kids/cafe store.
Moms would love to bring their kids, who need to be readers too, into a place like that where the kids can do something educational while moms read, drink fun beverages, chat with each other about home, kids, new books and such.
This could be huge!
Cindi Overfields last blog post..Are There Bugs, Trolls and Fairies in Your Child’s Lunch Box?
I think this is a great idea. I recently met with a group of blogging parents at a local coffee shop that had a really nice play area, and we had a great spot, but we had to hang out in the kids’ area, which didn’t give us much of a nice place to sit and chat. If it could be set up so that adults could have the plush furnishings, but still have visibility and fast access to the play area, I think it could work well.
You could sponsor a lot of parenting groups that are looking for places to meet, or even set up parenting groups just by giving them a place and time to meet, maybe even have parent / kid book groups for older kids where everyone has read the same book.
I wish you were in the Minneapolis area, because I would absolutely visit a place like that.
Farrah,
I think this sounds like an AMAZING idea. I wish I lived near you so I could go “PLAY”. I wanted to stop by and say “Thank you” for the comment on my Anniversary on my Blog. I appreciate it. I will definitely keep your blog on my Blogs I read list. Happy BBAW!!
Jennifer TFFQs last blog post..Interview : The Book Lady’s Blog author Rebecca.
I love this idea! I think it would be very successful. If we had something like that near us, I’d spend a lot of time there!