Tag Archives: Play-a-latte

Play-a-Latte celebrates one year anniversary

7 Sep

Play-a-Latte, Webster’s very own play café, is celebrating its first anniversary, and parents and kids of all ages are invited to join the fun.

Play-a-Latte, located in Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza), is owned and operated by Richelle Acker and Kristi Phillips. It offers families a bright, kid-friendly space where children can dive into imaginative play, and a coffeehouse vibe, where parents can sip, chat, unwind and catch up with friends while their kids explore. It’s a bright, colorful, welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of small-town America.

Eight different custom-built playhouses (retail and service shops) line the walls, surrounding a “central park”-type area with picnic tables, all encouraging imaginative play. There’s also a fenced-off area for very young children, a party room, and a separate sensory room: a quieter, calmer space with muted lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards. Plus, there’s plenty of comfortable seating for parents and grandparents, and a nice variety of refreshment options for both adults and children.

Basically, it’s adorable.

In the last year, the play café has seen steady business, especially during the colder months when playing outside isn’t a great option. Visiting the indoor playground has definitely been a delightful experience for little ones, but Richelle and Kristi are finding that one of the best parts about their business are the adult friendships they’re making at the same time.

Richelle wrote,

We have built so many wonderful relationships with our customers and made a lot of new friends along the way. Our favorite part of the job is seeing our “regulars” come in and being able to relax and chat with them during their visit. While we recognize that it’s not always possible (or common) for business owners themselves to be present and working the “front lines,” we pride ourselves on being able to be at the play café, interacting with families and looking for ways to improve the experience.

Especially being a new business, we feel it’s important to build connections with customers, the community, and to have the day-to-day operational perspective to identify opportunities for improvement. 

In the past year, Richelle and Kristi have also sponsored a wide variety of holiday events, pop-up vendor events (like Crochet Creations by KF and Abide Link Permanent Jewelry) and lots of informational specials events (like a cookie-making class, Love-2-Learn Sensory Class and Raising Readers with Elise). They’ve also already become deeply involved in the Webster community. They partner with local businesses and organizations for their supplies and special events, and have supported dozens of charitable organizations with donations of toys, gift cards, advertisements and sponsorships.

Richelle added,

In addition to having over 7,400 playtime admissions since we opened … we have also hosted 50 private birthday parties and have had so much fun adding our personal touches and making them all feel special for our families.  We love being creative with the business and we look forward to expanding our services to the community in our second year.  We have lots of fun ideas such as baby/toddler music classes, educational workshops for parents, and private family photo sessions/holiday photoshoots in our space.  

Play-a-Latte will celebrate its one year anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 12. They’ll be open for playtime from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day (reservation are suggested). Guests that day will enjoy a complimentary dessert tray and can take photos in front of a cute backdrop. There’ll also be a basket giveaway, and anyone who shares their anniversary post will have a chance to win. Plus, all merchandise will be on sale for 50% off.

Play-a-Latte is located on the west side of Towne Center Plaza on Ridge Rd. (next to Cold Stone). You can find more information on their website, Facebook page and Instagram (Playalatte_PlayCafe).

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/7/2026)

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Reconnecting with Play-a-Latte play café

30 Apr

One of the things I like best about attending the Webster Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Breakfast Buffet meeting is that I get to reconnect and check in with dozens of Webster-area business owners whom I have gotten to know through my blog.

At the April meeting, held last Friday April 24 at the Webster Golf Club, I had the pleasure to sit next Richelle Acker, co-owner of Play-a-Latte play café, located in the Towne Center Plaza on Ridge Rd. (Target plaza). Richelle and her sister Kristi Phillips opened the adorable little play space last September, and of course I wrote a blog about it. But I haven’t been back even once since then, to chat and see how things are going.

Apparently, I’ve missed out on a lot. Judging from what Richelle was telling me about the programs they’ve created and community connections they’re making with neighboring businesses, she and Kristi seem to have really settled into their business and found their groove.

If you’ve never been to Play-a-Latte yet, you really ought to pop in just to see what it’s all about. The bright, kid-friendly space features custom-built playhouses (retail and service shops), surrounding a “central park”-type area with picnic tables and ice cream cart, all encouraging imaginative play. There’s also a fenced-off area for very young children, a party room, and a separate sensory room: a quieter, calmer space with muted lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards. Plus, there’s plenty of comfortable seating for parents and grandparents, and a nice variety of refreshment options for both adults and children.

It’s basically a great place for parents to unwind with a beverage while their children are exploring, pretending, learning and making new friends.

And that’s just a start. Richelle and Kristi are always coming up with fun and creative new programs for young children and their caregivers. For example, in May there’s:

  • Love 2 Learn Sensory Class, Monday May 4 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Forty minutes of structured sensory activities, music and take-home craft followed by playtime. 
  • Live Puppet Show, Saturday May 16 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. A fun and educational live puppet show for ages three and up. Featuring the “Move & Groove” show by Grace & Grins Puppets, which includes music and dancing. Ticket also includes playtime after the show. Adults are free.

Click here to find out more and purchase tickets for any of these events. Play-a-Latte play café is located on the west side of Towne Center Plaza on Ridge Rd. (next to Cold Stone).

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(posted 4/30/2026)

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

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Play-a-Latte is officially open

13 Sep

Play-a-Latte, Webster’s new play café, officially opened to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday morning.

The new play café — located in Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza) — offers families a bright, kid-friendly space where children can dive into imaginative play, and a coffeehouse vibe, where parents can sip, chat, unwind and catch up with friends while their kids explore.

The last time I was in the café, well before it was open, it was pretty much still an empty storefront. Co-founders (and sisters) Richelle Acker and Kristi Phillips tried to help me picture their vision of the final layout once they got everything set up, but until I walked in Friday morning, I still had little idea of how it would look.

In a word, it’s adorable.

Eight different custom-built playhouses (retail and service shops) line the walls, surrounding a “central park”-type area with picnic tables and ice cream cart, all encouraging imaginative play. There’s also a fenced-off area for very young children, a party room, and a separate sensory room: a quieter, calmer space with muted lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards. Plus, there’s plenty of comfortable seating for parents and grandparents, and a nice variety of refreshment options for both adults and children.

James loved the trucks
Cayden (2) and Nora (6) serving up ice cream

The word is spreading quickly about Play-a-Latte. Shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the café was buzzing with small children, who were offering haircuts at Richelle’s Hair Salon, scooping ice cream, parking cars at Chase’s Garage, and serving up treats at Kristi’s Cafe.

Mary Mungovan-Moss knew it would probably be busy, so she got to the café early with her 18-month old son James. She’d only found out about it a few days ago, and it didn’t take her long to check it out.

“We were super excited,” she said. “We were hoping for something like this in Webster so that we can take him somewhere to play while his sister’s at school, and be able to play with kids that are not just his sister.”

The 90-minute time slot she’d registered for was “the perfect time for this age,” she added. “Play with everything, get tired and go.”

Play-a-Latte located at the southwest corner of Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza), 1028 Ridge Rd., next to Cold Stone. It’s open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Birthday party reservations are available after hours every day. Registrations are strongly recommended, because it’s gonna get busy and you don’t want to be turned away. Click here to make yours.

Find out more on their website here, Facebook page here and Instagram (playalatte_playcafe).

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/13/2025)

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Playtime for kids, coffee time for parents: a new café with something for everyone

20 Aug

A new play café will be opening soon in Webster, offering families the best of both worlds: a bright, kid-friendly space where children can dive into imaginative play, and a coffeehouse vibe, where parents can sip, chat, unwind and catch up with friends while their kids explore.

It’s called Play-a-Latte, and it’ll be opening in just a few weeks in Webster’s Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza).

Co-founders (and sisters) Richelle Acker and Kristi Phillips still have a lot of work to do before they can open their doors to the community, but when they’re done the results will be charming. The once-empty storefront will have been transformed into a kid-sized small town, featuring eight different custom-built playhouses including a doctor’s office, supermarket, café, ice cream cart and more. A “central park” with kid-sized picnic tables will sit in the middle of it all.

It’s all meant to encourage imaginative play, giving children the chance to step into roles, tell stories, and let their creativity lead the way.

A separate sensory room will offer a quieter, calmer space for children who need it, with dim lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards.

But it’s not all about the kids. The comfortable couches, chairs and café tables sprinkled throughout will encourage parents to relax while their kids play.

“We want our focus to be on both,” Richelle said. “We want the parents to enjoy coming in and hanging out, while the kids play”; a place for moms (and dads) to gather and connect, get to know each other and make new friends.

And perhaps even enjoy a latte. No worries, though, if you don’t like lattes. The coffee bar will be serving up a variety of comforting beverages, including hot coffee, iced coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and maybe hot cider in the fall.

The idea for the play café first came up around last Christmas, when Kristi stumbled across something online that sparked her imagination. A teacher by profession, she envisioned it as the perfect way to stay home with her own son while still working with children. Teaming up with her sister Richelle, whose background in business and event planning was a perfect complement, made the venture feel like a natural fit.

As soon as Play-a-Latte opens, parents will be able to go online and book 90-minute playtime spots. (Pre-registration is strongly recommended so the space doesn’t get too crowded and they don’t have to turn people away.) Parents can also book private birthday parties in the café’s dedicated party room. And keep an eye out for special events throughout the year, like mommy-and-me yoga, or a build-your-own-bouquet class. Richelle and Kristi might even introduce a book club where the parents can meet while their kids play.

“We have infinite ideas,” Richelle said. “We want to start slow and build it up and introduce new things as we get up and running.”

Should be great.

You can check out the new Play-a-Latte space for yourself when they hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m., followed by their grand opening on Saturday Sept. 13. The café is located in the very southwest corner of Towne Center Plaza (at Ridge and Holt roads) next to Cold Stone Creamery. In the meantime, you can check out their Facebook page here and website here. They’re also on Instagram (Playalatte_PlayCafe).

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 8/20/2025)

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