Parents, children have new place to take a shopping break at Bellis Fair mall
Parents and children have another option when they need a shopping break at Bellis Fair.
PlayDate had its grand opening Friday, Dec. 27, at the mall. Located in the Target wing, PlayDate has a four-level climbing gym with slides and netting. The rest of the space is a cafe and several private-event rooms for birthday parties.
The cafe serves a variety of food, including pizza with dough made in-house, pastries, salads and wraps. Along with coffee and tea, drink options include local beer and wine.
This is the third PlayDate facility, which is family owned and operated, said Heather Birkhahn, regional director for the company. The Bellingham facility is the largest, and the first in a mall setting, she said in an interview.
While the climbing area is recommended for children up to age 12, parents are also encouraged to hang out in the climbing area.
“It’s a great family bonding experience,” Birkhahn said, adding that the best part of opening is seeing the kids playing on the climbing gym.
Currently, parents need to stay at PlayDate while their children are playing, but Birkhahn said they are developing a system where parents can drop a child off and do some shopping while their kids play. She expects that system to be ready this spring.
The private-event rooms are geared toward birthday parties and PlayDate provides some of the party items needed like plates and cups. There is also unlimited play after the party.
PlayDate is also open beyond the typical mall hours. It opens at 9 a.m. every day, closing at 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and staying open an hour later on Friday and Saturday. Details can be found on Playdate’s website and Facebook page.
This story was originally published December 29, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
