Big Dreams For Little Treehouse

By Dava Guerin

In the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, Rachael Williams is opening the area’s first play café in Chestnut Hill.

With a proper English accent, this former BBC executive, classically-trained cellist, and single mother of three adopted children of different races, is anything but traditional. After realizing that there was no place to take her young children that was also enjoyable for her, she put her considerable business skills to the test. After months of research and planning, The Little Treehouse Play Café opened its doors on Gravers Lane in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Complete with a colorful play space for kids, and a coffee bar with free WiFi for adults, occupying 3,500 square feet, plus an additional 3,000 more for future development, the project is designed to stimulate young children’s imaginations while providing parents with a sense of community and connection.

“I came up with the idea for the Play Café when I first became a mother and realized that there was no place to go for parents of very young children which was designed to provide a satisfying experience for them both,” Williams said. “It was all about solving the problem of isolation, getting out of the house to do something wholesome and constructive with the kids while taking some time for you and finding community. Unlike many of the ‘Mommy and Me’ activities that are expensive and have to be scheduled in advance, The Little Treehouse is only $7.50 to play all day, which is certainly very affordable, and you can just drop in,” she added.

Williams bought the impressive 6,500 square foot, 1920’s stone building which was a former post office for more than $1 million. She hired architect Alan Metcalfe, and his team, which includes Aaron Goldblatt, former chief designer at the Please Touch Museum, to transform the space into her vision of what a play café should look like. The goal was to create a visually stimulating open space for children to express themselves and learn through imaginative play, as well as incorporate a sophisticated color palette that would also appeal to adults. She chose only environmentally-friendly wooden play structures, and high quality toys which parents can also purchase in the plastic-free zone.

In addition to the large play space, The Little Treehouse has a designated area where parents can enjoy fresh, healthy food and talk with their peers when their children are playing. “So many times when you take your kids out to play, you can’t relax yourself, get to know other parents, and share your ideas and concerns. It was very important for me to bring people together. Over time we will add even more activities for parents such as workshops, lectures and social networking opportunities. For the kids, we are looking to add a range of activities including music, art and tumbling classes when the large downstairs activities area is finished. We will also have magic shows and children’s theater workshops performed by the Enchantment Theatre Company,” Williams added.

Prior to construction, the café menu consisted of sandwiches, salads, pastries, and a range of healthy kid’s food and snacks, all of which was brought in from outside suppliers. However, a full kitchen is currently underway, which will allow The Little Treehouse to expand to a high-end pizza restaurant menu featuring family lunches and early dinners in an environment which is specifically designed for little people to eat and run. The targeted completion date for the kitchen is mid September. Also scheduled for completion in September, is the construction of a range of new play structures which have been specially commissioned for The Little Treehouse from Colorado based designer Sawhorse Studio who specialize in hand-crafted wooden play environments for kids.

The Power of Play

Rob Wiederman, whose 17-month-old daughter Elizabeth is a regular visitor to The Little Treehouse said: “I feel confident that my daughter’s safe, and if she takes a tumble here she won’t hurt herself like she would at a playground. I also think it’s a great place for her to play and burn off energy. I come here with my daughter every day, and I don’t know what I would do without it.” Landis Smith, artistic director of the Enchantment Theatre Company, which has been providing original theatre for school groups and families for the past 30 years, said that The Little Treehouse is a much needed resource for parents and children living in the area. “It is well documented that play is one of the most powerful ways kids learn new skills and keep them for the long-term,” Smith said. “When you add imagination to the mix, especially today when kids are spending so much isolated time on computers and video games, the results can be dramatic. And, research shows that when they use their imaginations in play, they become more successful in school and in their interactions with others.”

For Williams, who is a naturalized American citizen and recently voted in her first Presidential election, her dream is to expand the business in the region, with an eye towards a national presence. “Of course, I would be thrilled to have people all across the country experience this wonderful concept. And, if it does expand over the years, I intend to create a foundation that will provide funds for a wide range of children’s services. But for now, I am concentrating on making this location an unparalleled community resource,” said Williams.

The Little Treehouse is located at 10 West Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill. For more information, visit www.treehouseplaycafe.com or call (215) 247-3637.