Tacoma parents are about to get a new way to burn off their kids’ energy without sacrificing their caffeine fix. Sunrise Play Cafe, a combined indoor playground and cafe, is set to open this April in the Stadium District, offering a roughly 1,400-square-foot playscape for toddlers and preschoolers alongside a chill, adult-friendly seating area. The idea is simple: kids climb, slide and explore while their grown-ups sip coffee or a mimosa and actually sit down for a minute.
Co-owners Jordan Zenisek and Susan Saccone have leased 204 St. Helens Ave. for the project and started hiring in late March. According to Sunrise Play Café, open positions include barista and check-in staff, along with kitchen roles, and the site features a newsletter sign-up for pre-opening updates. The owners also list Kerriston Coffee as their roaster as they wrap up the buildout and prepare for spring service.
What’s Inside the Space
The playscape is planned as a multi-zone, soft-play environment for children ages 0–6, with separate climbing, sliding and sensory areas set apart from the cafe seating. As reported by What Now Seattle, the cafe menu will feature waffles, flatbreads, avocado toast and salads, plus espresso drinks, smoothies and a limited lineup of local beers and wines.
Prices, Memberships and Parties
Day passes are expected to run about $20 per child for a two-hour session, with a 10-visit pack priced near $120 and a monthly membership option around $75, according to The News Tribune. The News Tribune also notes an $800 annual membership and a $1,000 founding membership that includes a free non-alcoholic drink per visit, with an additional sibling fee of $25. Sunrise plans to host private soft-opening events starting in mid-April and to begin booking birthday parties in May, with memberships scheduled to go on sale April 10.
Safety, Cleaning and Hours
"Staff will spray down play equipment every 30 minutes with an organic, non-toxic solution," the owners told The News Tribune. The paper also reports that bathrooms will be stocked with diapers, wipes and toddler toilet-seat attachments, and that staff will handle a nightly deep clean. Once fully open, Sunrise expects to operate roughly from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening blocks reserved for private events. During standard hours, adults will be capped at two alcoholic drinks, while adults-only, after-hours events will not have a drink limit.
When to Go
Families interested in early access, memberships or jobs can find sign-up and application links on the cafe’s site. Per Sunrise Play Café, the team plans to share updates and pre-opening invitations through its newsletter as it finishes inspections and staffing.
