Play Cafe opened to the public on March 20.
When the Upstate Business Journal caught up with Judson Mill’s indoor play facility earlier in 2024, the latest Judson Mill addition was still a work in progress.
Business partners Austin Motes and Daniel Kingsbury were just two dads who realized there needed to be a safe place for kids to play that could also be an enjoyable, stress-free experience for their parents and caregivers. And so, Play Cafe was born.
Related: Judson Mill’s dual eatery: What to expect at Mill City Kitchen, Mill City Wine
“It’s a playground where you could actually do some work. Check your email, get a cup of coffee and let the kids play,” Motes said. “You can come and go, as long as we’re not meeting our max capacity.”
“We wanted to gear it all towards the parent or the caregiver.”
Now the idea is officially in the physical realm.
Motes and Kingsbury are Upstate natives but they searched the southeast as a whole for inspiration for the project, as well as materials which were sourced out of Florida and Kentucky.
Before and after
The concept is part indoor playground, part cafe, part event space. The crown jewels are the massive climb-and-slide structures, one of which stands roughly two stories high.
The shorter structure is focused toward kids 6 and under, and the taller structure is targeted toward kids 7 and up.
Surrounding the structures are imagination stations where kids can imagine themselves as veterinarians, firefighters, construction workers, or as a patron in a coffee shop or barista.
The perimeter includes seating areas for parents, as well as rentable rooms for parties and other events.
Take a photo tour of Play Cafe
Food and drink
Baked goods and beverages are available now. More food options will be added as the kitchen appliances come in, including pizza and sandwiches. Motes said vegetarian options will be available, and that the menu will include about 10 staple offerings along with some seasonal rotations.
Alcoholic drinks will not be sold directly through the cafe but adult guests can bring in beers or glasses of wine from neighboring Magnetic South Brewing or the soon-to-open Mill City Wine as long as it is in a plastic cup.
Play Cafe at Judson Mill is located at 701 Easley Bridge Road, Unit 6040 in West Greenville. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
