Moozie's Play Cafe is geared toward kids between the ages of six months and 10 years old.
WASHINGTON TWP. -- One Connecticut winter was all it took to inspire Aimee Kirvan to create an exciting new destination for families in Washington Township.
Kirvan and her husband, Fred, recently opened Moozie's Play Cafe on Shoppers Lane near the Kohl's shopping plaza. The fun play and learning center is geared toward children between the ages of 6 months and 10 years old, and promises a safe environment that "combines recreation, entertainment, imagination and education."
The couple got the idea from a similar place in Connecticut where they took their three boys. They had moved up there last year to be closer to a restaurant they owned, but after deciding to close the restaurant they came back to South Jersey, and Moozie's was born.
"It was so cold the winter that we were there," Kirvan said. "During that time, it was tough to go outside and play because it was so cold. So I had to find something indoors for (our children) to do, and we found this place called Tot Town. We started going there and they would play for hours. So we decided when we moved back home that we would open the same thing."
They took the concept a step further by relying on their restaurant experience and adding a cafe. They have healthy items for breakfast and lunch as well as free drinks for parents, who can sit and watch their kids play anywhere in the center thanks to the open concept.
"It seems to be working out well," Kirvan said. "It's nice to see the parents sitting and enjoying a complimentary cup of coffee or tea and just relaxing while their children are playing right next to them. It's pretty neat."
Moozie's -- which comes from a childhood nickname of Aimee's -- offers unlimited open play sessions from Tuesday through Saturday for $10. The play area is meant to simulate a town, with different individual pods, such as a firehouse or doctors' office, where children can play with age-appropriate toys and learn while having fun.
Classes for music, art and yoga are offered as well, and Kirvan also expects Moozie's to become a popular spot for birthday parties.
"There is a variety of different options," she said. "We don't limit them to just a regular, generic birthday party. We can do a yoga birthday party, or an art birthday party, or a Zumba birthday party -- things of that nature. We try to keep it fresh and new."
Parents might also be interested in a special that will be held on the second Saturday of each month starting March 12. Parents Night Out, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., gives them the opportunity to drop their kids off and have a date night of their own.
"You can drop your child off for a couple of hours and go enjoy dinner and a movie," Kirvan said. "When you come back to pick them up, hopefully they'll be nice and worn out for you."
Moozie's has been received very well in the community during demo classes and since its official opening on Feb. 26. Kirvan only expects its popularity to grow as people learn about this safe new setting for their children.
"We are right next to Kids Kuts, so that's given us great exposure," she said. "A woman who was at Kohl's saw all the activity, so she came over with her daughter. So it's a pretty good location. I think we're going to do well here."