Mompreneur Monday: Kathleen Weinberg from Nibbles Play Cafe

*** Editors Note: Nibbles Play Cafe closed on February 21, 2014 ***

Welcome to Mompreneur Monday, where we introduce you to Mom-Based businesses in Lake County.
Today we meet busy mom Kathleen Weinberg of the Wheeling based Nibbles Play Cafe to learn more about her business and how she balances it all and motherhood.

 

I was lucky enough to sit with Kathleen in her cozy cafe and chat with her about her business. After spending some time at Nibbles, you will definitely want to come back! Not only is this a comfortable place to go and relax while your kids can have fun, it is a place for moms to connect, kids to develop good social skills and for us parents to get that much needed time to recharge!

When you visit Nibbles, don’t be surprised if Kathleen sits down with your child and plays with him/her. She is a businesswoman through and through, but that mom in her shines through more than anything!

Here is what she had to say:

What was the catalyst that started your business?

I worked as a social worker with families of special needs children for many years before becoming a stay at home mom. After being at home with my own children, I grew to understand what moms had been telling me – they just wanted a place to be able to hang out and have a conversation with a friend before their coffee got cold and someplace that was good for their kids. I have a strong belief in the benefits of “free play” that helps encourage children to use their imaginations and doesn’t require batteries and believe children need to play with 3 dimensional, hands-on activities to develop appropriately, rather than so much time with the 2 dimensional (videos, tv’s and computers) activities.

How long have you been in business?

It will be five years in April, 2013. It took approximately 3 years of planning and research, another 2 to find space and build out. I’ve been focusing on this for 10 years.

You can celebrate FIVE YEARS with Nibbles TOMORROW with their birthday party! Free admission and activities all day long! So stop by and say Happy Birthday!

Has it been difficult to get your business up and running, while taking care of your other “mom” duties?

It is a challenge to run a business and meet the needs of my children and family. There is lots of multi-tasking! For instance, I am up at 5:00am doing administrative activities. The best thing I have come to know is having internet access while waiting in the bus line to pickup the kids! My children are almost 13 and almost 17 now. I thought it would get a little less hectic as they got older, but it is not true. Now we have travel baseball practice all year, my daughter competes nationally in karate (and is going to compete in the Maccabiah competition the “Jewish Olympics” in Israel this summer!) along with starting the college search. And we are getting close to spending more time helping out our aging parents…so the challenges continue. It’s a little crazy!

How did you come up with the name and idea for your business?

My kids actually named the business! My son was in the 1^st grade and we came up with several names and the 1^st graders voted on it. “Nibbles” is really one of the characters from Tom and Jerry! We liked that it has a couple different meanings and it’s easy for toddlers to say. I spent a lot of time researching different play centers across the country and brought together what I liked about different places. I had a consultant, Randy White of the White Hutchinson Leisure and Learning Group, who develops both large entertainment centers and day care centers. He helped with the details of the design.

What is the best thing about your job?

Interacting with parents and their children, seeing parents become friends with other parents, and also helping parents find resources that they are looking for. I’m still very much a social worker and always will be.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Marketing activities. I am constantly struggling to generate new business so we can try to pay the bills.

What was your inspiration to start this business, and what keeps you inspired each day to keep going, even on the hardest days?

I’ve worked with families and their children since college. I love spending time with young children and providing support to their parents. When I’m really unhappy with the “business” stuff , I can go play with a 3 year old,or do a craft with a group of kids. It helps me remember why I keep doing this.

What is the most important thing you want our readers to know?

Nibbles is really a community-center for families with young children. We have always struggled to keep our doors open in this economy but my family is very dedicated to the service that it provides families with young children. We give moms (and dads) a place to go with their kids where they can hang out and be comfortable. We work closely with nonprofit organizations to support others dedicated to children; we work with the local school system to provide job training opportunities to students with special needs. We work with early intervention therapists by letting them use Nibbles as a place to have a natural setting to observe the children they work with – Nibbles is much more than just a play place. We are trying very hard to make Nibbles as affordable as possible so most families can have access to our facility.

What do you do to recharge?

I’m not so good at finding time for myself . I never figured out how you are able to do that while running a business and running children around. I do exercise regularly, I am “team mom” for my son’s baseball team and I head the parent’s association for the Northshore Dojo/Karate Can Do Foundation. That all gives me a chance to focus on something different than Nibbles. Although it makes me even a little busier, it’s good to be able to be involved in something other than my own business. And I love to sit at a White Sox game for the full three or four hours where no one can call me on my cell phone!

Is there anything you still aspire to do with your business?

I’m seriously considering changing Nibbles into a nonprofit organization that has more a more socially responsible mission – when I get some time to figure that out!

Want more to love about Nibbles and all of Kathleen’s hard work?

*COME HUNGRY

Nibbles has a full menu that caters to moms needing a cup of coffee, toddlers needing a snack and a family wanting a good hearty lunch. The prices are reasonable and most impressive? The wholesome, perfectly portioned lunch my son gobbled up in under two minutes. Free coffee Mondays don’t hurt either!

*GREEN PRACTICES

While planning and building Nibbles, Kathleen knew that she wanted to keep the facility as green as she could. They try to use products that emit low or zero levels of VOC and are sustainable and manufactured using green business practices. They make an effort to use products that could replace disposable products such as plates and party decorations. In order to keep clean and go green, they choose green cleaning products, especially on surfaces that children will be in contact with. The floors and trim at Nibbles are made of bamboo and many of their other surfaces are made with recycled or natural products. Most importantly, they try to use green practices on a daily basis by recycling, saving and reusing as much as possible.

*BIRTHDAY PARTIES, EVENTS AND MORE

Nibbles makes birthday planning easy. They offer several birthday party packages and specialize in first birthday parties. In addition to birthdays, Nibbles has a full calendar of fun events scheduled for children such as character visits, story times, art projects, craft time and themed parties.

*KEEPING KIDS IN MIND BUT MADE FOR PARENTS

Upon walking into Nibbles, your first thought may be, “Is this a restaurant or a play place?” Kathleen thoughts are simple. This facility was made for the parents while keeping the kids in mind. She really wanted to create a space for parents to have a break while the kids had something fun to do. With so many ‘play areas for children while the parents stand around’ abounding, it was a nice change to have a place made for the parents to relax while the kids were kept busy with many engaging activities. Grab a friend to join you and you can actually finish a conversation, comfortably, with a cup of coffee in hand. Perfection.

*THE BATHROOM!

Yes, I said it! The bathroom is the place to be! Nibbles play spaces cater to the younger set of children, many who are potty training. This bathroom could not have been better! A small, child sized toilet and child sized sink is just what you need to encourage potty success while out and about. For the even younger, a large changing table makes diaper changing easy. Seriously, check it out. You will not be disappointed!

Kathleen has offered our readers a chance to experience Nibbles for themselves! She is giving away a TEN PUNCH FAMILY ADMISSION CARD to one lucky reader! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below- ends April 7 10:00 pm.

For more information on Nibbles Play Cafe, their hours, admission prices and updates, check out their website or call 847-229-0400. Be sure to connect with Nibbles Play Cafe on Facebook to keep up to date on special events!

a Rafflecopter giveaway