It’s been nearly a month since Lil Hoppers Play Café opened its doors, giving families in the city a much-needed indoor play space.
In early January, local couple Derrick and Sandy Przysieny who are also the parents of two young children officially opened their indoor playground and café.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an already short supply of indoor play spaces and activities for children in the community become even more limited.
Playgrounds Café, which used to be located on Quinn Street closed its doors in 2019, since then the city has seen family favourites like the Exploration Place close for renovations and Pine Centre Mall remove its play area.
“This last summer we went to Edmonton and Vancouver quite a bit and they had a bunch of different indoor play places, and we were thought we need something like this in Prince George,” said Derrick.
On one of their trips back, Sandy asked Derrick if he wanted to open one in Prince George and three weeks later, they began working on renos in the 3000 sq ft space in the Parkhill Centre which would eventually become Lil Hoppers Play Café.
“We were really looking for something like this because what do you do when it’s minus -30 C out and it’s winter in Prince George for seven months of the year?” said Derrick.
“It is something we would want to take our kids to and there is not much for indoor play areas.”
Lil Hoppers features a sit-down café section in the front and play spaces created to cater for infants and kids all the way through to elementary school. There is also a nursing nook, change tables, playhouses, and toddler and child play structures.
The Przysienys built playhouses that are currently set up like a fire hall and grocery store, but Derrick adds that as time goes on, they hope to roll over some toys and themes to keep the space fresh and interesting for the kids.
Derrick said he’s now sometimes recognized and approached by people who thank them for opening the café saying it’s something the community really needed.
“That makes you feel good, you know, that we brought something that everyone was really looking for.”
Although they were a little nervous to be opening their new business during COVID-19, Derrick said they worked closely with Northern Health before they opened to develop a cleaning schedule and follow the necessary protocols.
Once COVID-19 protocols change, Derrick says they hope to be able to host events like birthday parties, and movie nights.
“It’s something to do in the winter with your family and gives you an excuse to leave the house,” said Derrick.
“And the last few years where we have had crappy summers where it’s rained or been smokey and people were just hanging out in their house because it is too smokey to go outside well this can be that outlet.”
Since the café currently closes at 4 p.m. Derrick said they also intend to have the space available to rent for community groups like lactation support groups or having special quieter nights for children with autism or sensory issues.
The café itself also supports other local businesses as the Przysienys' source food from the Twisted Cork, Farmhouse Catering, and North Roast Coffee.
“It is always good to have more stuff to do for families,” said Derrick. “Just to have someplace for kids to go and keep them out of trouble and get some exercise.”
