A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Play Café Journey

Let’s have a little heart-to-heart. You’ve visited our play café, watched your kids giggle their way around, and maybe even enjoyed a much-needed coffee break in the process. But what you didn't see is the behind the scenes- or the story behind it all—the long, winding road that brought us here. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t as “easy” as it sometimes looks on Instagram!  

With Mother’s Day around the corner, we’ve been reflecting even more on what it means to build something not just as business owners—but as moms.

Dreaming Big, Starting Small

When my sister and I first dreamed of opening our play café, it felt like the perfect way to combine our passions: creating a joyful, safe space for families while pursuing a meaningful business as sisters and as moms. We imagined vibrant walls, happy kids, and community connections. But as with many dreams, the journey wasn’t as straightforward as we’d hoped. 

Finding the Perfect Location

Oh, the irony of location scouting! We’d heard so many stories about other play café owners finding “the one” right away. For us, it was months of driving around, touring spaces that were too expensive, needed to much work done, or too far out of reach. When a location didn't work out, we had to remind ourselves that setbacks aren’t roadblocks—they’re just redirections. 

Installation

Painting

Fence is up

Securing Business Funding

Here’s another challenge we didn’t fully anticipate: funding. While our dream felt priceless, getting financial backing was a whole new ballgame (it may deserve it's own blog!). In hindsight, those long nights spent crunching numbers and rewriting business plans and projections were lessons in resilience.

What kept us going? Each other. My sister and I leaned on our partnership as much as our faith, determined not to give up on this dream.

The Role of Faith in Our Journey

We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about how much God played a part in every step of this process. There were many moments when we felt unsure and even defeated. But time and time again, we found comfort in prayer and guidance in scripture.  

One verse that inspired us deeply was Matthew 5:16:  

"Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

We realized this space wasn’t just about us—it was about serving others, creating a space where families could connect, and shining God’s light in our little corner of the world. 

A Moment to Reflect

Looking back, every setback, every delay, and every moment of uncertainty was part of the story that brought us here. What once felt frustrating or unclear at the time now feels like it was shaping something bigger than we could see in the moment.

Building EPC has stretched us, grounded us, and reminded us why we started in the first place—not just to create a space for children to play, but a place where families feel welcomed, supported, and connected.

And while the journey wasn’t easy, it’s one we wouldn’t trade. Thank you for being part of it.

Stay grounded & grateful,

Mavia & Maria