When my first child was beginning to talk, walk (I mean run), and explore - I found that finding interesting places to go that we can both enjoy together were few and far between. I became increasingly bothered by the fact that everywhere we went, WE had to fit in to the surroundings. Places for kids meant that you had to compromise healthy food and your sanity. Places for adults meant you'd be stressing about how much of a scene you were making. We would find classes at various places around town but there was nothing to do before or after. Not much time to socialize with other moms who were experiencing the exact same things. I wanted a place where we automatically fit, and that fit our needs. Somewhere that I would want to hang out, meet other parents, have quality time with my child and maybe tick a couple things off my to-do list at the same time. Somewhere that wasn't 'sticky' or filled with primary colors, a place I could confidently go and not leave with pink eye.
I also started thinking about parenthood and what it means these days. If you are staying home, you have to justify the financial choice. Be the perfect mom or dad, manage the house, etc. If you work part-time, like I did after staying home for a year, you are always feeling like you are failing at both being a good parent and work. If you work full-time, you constantly deal with the guilty feeling that you are not spending enough time with your child. Lost in this balancing act is who you were before kids, and who you are now. Often reconciling both requires a little re-defining of what productivity and success really are for you, the time to sort it out, and the support of knowing you are not alone.
The first priority of piccadilly is recognizing that being a mom or a dad is only one of your titles. It makes up part of who you are. We want to provide a space for you to just be, a space that fulfills your needs. That could mean very different things at any moment of the day - you might need quality time with your kids or your own quiet time; to sit down and pay bills or get a manicure, or how about having an actual conversation with a grown up? We'll be there with the tools you need to make it happen. You and your child should leave piccadilly feeling satisfied and energized. Here's to a 'productive dilly-dally'!
About piccadilly:
piccadilly is not just your average play cafe. It is a place where play, relaxation, productivity, comfort and learning all come together. It's clever. A space that is designed for you, enjoyed by all...
We host birthday parties, events, offer classes (ages 0-10), have healthy food & snack menu and offer babysitting nights. Our play coaches are always on staff to interact with your children and be that second set of eyes for you, so you can relax, work, read or chat. We also know that sometimes you crave quality time with your children! For that we offer projects and activities that you can do together.
Our goal is to make your life easier. So you leave feeling refreshed and accomplished for the day!
A little about me:
I started my career at Bath & Body Works corporate offices in their New Business Development department after I graduated from Michigan State in 1997. In 2000, I accepted a position in client services at SubmitOrder, Inc., where we managed the web order and fulfillment for all the Estee Lauder online brands. I then moved on to be an Account Director at RPA, Retail Planning Associates, managing the branding, strategy and retail design for a number of clients. That's where I met my partner Stuart who was their Creative Director. Before our first child was born he told me he had an idea - it was to open a bike store that was easy to shop, by all types of riders (not just those that looked like Lance Armstrong), and focused on creating a great retail experience rather than just being a hobby shop. From that point, we started planning the opening of our bike store, roll: We had our son in December of 2003, and in March of 2005 we opened our first store on Polaris Parkway here in Columbus.
We now have 2 children and 3 stores. Piccadilly was born in my mind in 2006, but I didn't get serious about opening it until the end of 2010. Piccadilly opened in late Spring of 2012.
Check out the great piccadilly play space on their website here. You can also learn more about their morning, after school and adult classes here. Find out more about their birthday parties here and their Parent PlayDates here.
piccaddily is located at 2501 E. Main St., Bexley. You can contact them at 614-725-0204 or email info@piccadillydally.com.
