05/15/2026
Before there was a lease signed, toys on the shelves, or coffee brewing… there were two little Yeti cups. 🩵💚
Marisa Barra bought them for her and I when Explore Play Cafe was just a dream. Back when the dream was a conversation between two friends and colleagues who had a whole lot of faith that one day, that dream would come true.
Truthfully-there was never a “perfect” time to make the leap and create an inclusive play space for kids of all abilities and families of all kinds. (Being pregnant and having a newborn the first year was DEFINITELY not a part of the plan 😂).
We waited a whole decade before we made our dream a reality.
Now, seeing EPC filled with laughter, families, and community feels surreal sometimes. What once lived only in our hearts became something real that people walk into every single day.
We may not do things perfectly. We may fail forward in lots of aspects. And we are definitely learning so much through the process. But with every time we see a new friend, someone purchases a membership, or books a birthday party-we can’t help but be so grateful for yall trusting us.
Funny how something so simple can carry so much meaning. 🫶
Here’s to the dreams that start small, the people who believe in them with you, and the little reminders that keep you going until they become reality. ✨🥤
