An interactive playhouse with everything from structures resembling castles where kids can role-play to a kid-friendly cafe serving coffee and pastries will open in St. Petersburg’s Central Oak Park neighborhood.

The new business, Run and Play Kids Cafe, is a joint venture between Jessica Garvin, owner of downtown’s first toy shop Runrun Kids Store, and Hannah Rewerts, founder of the mobile coffee truck Bean Wandering. 

The 3,000-square-foot space at 3950 Central Avenue, next door to Runrun Kids Store, will have a 1,700-square-foot play area designed for children ages 6 months to 9 years old. 

Little ones can explore soft play zones and imaginative role-play, while older kids can discover hidden nooks and enjoy a play structure equipped with slides, a pool noodle maze, and activities focused on balance and climbing. 

There is also a zone focused on fine motor skills development, an art creativity section, a peg wall with pool noodles, and an area that can be reserved for birthday parties.

Parents can sip cold brew coffee served from the cafe while keeping a close eye on their kids.   

The cafe, connected via a doorway, will be Bean Wandering’s first brick-and-mortar location. Rewerts started the business in 2023 as a hobby, selling canned lattes out of a mini trailer.

The new cafe will source beans from the nearby wholesaler Look Alive Coffee roasters, which opened recently in the Grand Central District. It will also carry pastries from local bakeries and hot and cold drinks and mocktails for children.

Garvin is working with United Kingdom-based Four Little Pigs interior design studio, which is a global firm specializing in custom designing and building playrooms for children.

Run and Play Kids Cafe will open in April and operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Garvin said memberships will be available. There will be a booking platform to reserve play spots.

Follow the Runrun Kids Store Facebook page for the latest information and announcements.