Boyles couple set to open Poppets Play Place in Town
“Michael has his heart set on Aug. 12,” Victoria said.
“That’s the target,” Michael added.
The indoor playground is called “soft play because everything in there is soft, made of foam or wrapped and protected,” including the floors, Victoria said. “Everything is BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalate free.”
While BPA and phthalate are chemical additives used in the making of plastic, they can be toxic.
“So we’re making sure there are none,” she said.
The Boyles said Poppets Play Place is not a daycare facility. Parents or other caregivers are responsible for the child.
“They come in with the child,” Victoria said. “We just check them in.”
Much like a park, Poppets is a “pop-in place for children ages 0 to 7,” Victoria said. “Parents, grandparents, babysitters, any kind of caregiver can come in with their children. They sign a waiver, and (the children) can come in for free play.
“It’s temperature-controlled,” she added.
Victoria said parents can purchase slip-resistant socks if they don’t have them, and the socks can be re-used.
“There’s a separate party room that can be rented for birthdays, baby showers, gender reveal,” she added.
The play place structure is 22 by 8 feet wide and 9 feet tall.
“They can climb on (the play structure), slide,” Victoria said. “Little look-out window.”
“There’s safety netting on each compartment,” Michael said. “There’s no way a child can fall.”
Then, there’s a section for “crawlers and cruisers,” for children up to age 18 months.
“So those little ones can be in there,” Victoria said. “That way, the 4- and 5-year-olds aren’t (knocking them down).”
Poppets Play Place also will hold events and special days, such as Mommy Meet-Ups and Home School Days, Grandparents Tuesdays and Homeschool Thursdays.
The idea to open an indoor playground was spawned by the couple’s daughter, who recently gave birth to their first grandchild.
“She lives outside of Atlanta, and she went to one down there (about six months ago),” Victoria recalled. “She said, ‘Oh, you guys have got to do this in Farragut.’”
After researching the idea, the Boyles signed the lease in May.
Hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday; from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and closed Sundays.
