May Updates
Happy May, it’s Recess Cafe update time!
Fun fact: May is the birth month of my first daughter, marking the beginning of this entire journey of trying to merge all my identities—mom, girlfriend-turned-wife, snack lover, person who wishes they had more time to read, and a person who always has just one more email to send before logging off—into one physical location where I could hangout with my friends, kids, and partner.
So, before I get into it, thanks for reading these updates. Thanks for listening to me talk about how hard parenting is and then one breath later go on about how much I love it. Thanks to the cool aunts and uncles who love us and then love the kids we have, despite our new obsession with nap schedules. Thanks to the random couple last week who gave me a knowing smile on my walk as my youngest screamed in her stroller for all of Ann Arbor to hear. Thanks for also feeling like there has to be a better way for us to all coexist and support each other!
Another reminder to follow us on Instagram!
More updates on our progress:
First (and scariest), if you haven’t had a chance to check out our support video, take a look! HUGE thank you to Trevor Matthews for enduring our awkwardness!
We had our liquor license interview and are on track to have it in hand by open!
Last week Hyperion hosted us at their roastery for our first mini training. As we get closer to open, they will come on site with our entire staff to train in our space.
Toys and books are being delivered daily. We’ll have rotating items to keep our playspace fresh and lots of great books for the adults to check out while they unplug :)
The menu is in the works–as previously mentioned, we are focusing on local, high quality, high approachability items for all ages (bread boards, cheese and snacks for all!)
Our contractors came by last week to discuss our project timeline and chat through our play platform. Now begins the hunt for the perfect slide!
With that timeline, we now have a REAL schedule for construction–contractors start in mid-June and our goal is to have our Certificate of Occupancy (the piece of paper that lets us open) in hand about a month later. As we get further along in construction, look out for deets on soft launch parties and play reservations!
We’ve raised over $5,000 dollars to support our initial build out. Absolutely insane and so incredibly validating that the community sees the need and value of third spaces for families. These funds directly support our cafe build–plumbing, labor, electrical, equipment, etc. Thank you so much to everyone who’s contributed, every bit of support takes us closer to bringing Recess to life <3
Chelsea Hohn (Wildscape Floral Co.)
The Watts Family
The Santer Family
The Looper Family
The Popp Family
Katelyn, Eric, and Juniper Schwartz
The McShane Family
The Cox Family
The Cusamano Family
The Shields Family
The Korovesis Family (Field & Forest Farm)
The Oberly Family
The Mora Family
The Benmark Family
The Herzog Family
The Todak Family
How can you help?
Share our support page with your friends and family!
Share our instagram and repost our stories and posts :)
If you know any local artists that would be interested in showcasing their work at the cafe, or anyone seeking employment opportunities, send them our way! You can reach me at amelia@recess.cafe
Tell us what you want to see at the cafe! What events should we host? What businesses should we collaborate with? What toys/books do your kids LOVE? Let us know at https://www.recess.cafe/contact
That’s all for now! Thank you all for following along on our progress and being as excited for this project as we are :) It’s been quite the journey, and it’s surreal that the finish line is now so close.
Until June!
Thressa & Amelia <3