344: Year 1 Of Opening A Play Cafe With Owner Jessalyn Pustay From The Playroom WV
The Profitable Play PodcastShow Notes
Year 1 Of Opening A Play Cafe With Jessalyn Pustay From The Playroom West Virginia!
This interview is also available on YouTube as a video here!
You can also get a summary of this episode on our blog here!
In today’s episode, I’m talking with The Playroom owner Jessalyn Pustay about her first year in business and the lessons she learned while creating a high-quality play and programming space in West Virginia — something she desperately wanted for her own kids after relocating from Washington, DC.
In this interview, we cover:
...How her staffing model grew from just herself to a small, reliable team that can now handle emergencies and weekend coverage.
...The tech struggles she faced early on, why pieced-together systems held her back, and why she’s excited to try something new.
...The marketing channels that actually work in her town.
...How she adjusted pricing and added unlimited memberships, plus which revenue streams perform best.
...The strong seasonality in her area and how she planned ahead financially to make summer slowdowns manageable.
...Her shift away from certain offerings, like read-and-plays and drop-off events, and the themed playgroups and holiday events that consistently sell out.
...The birthday party add-ons that made the biggest difference in profitability.
...How customer feedback shaped her hours and upcoming plans like co-working mornings and homeschool days.
...The vendor and community partnerships that drive real revenue, from bakers and roasters to photographers and local activity providers.
...Her biggest wins and biggest learning moments.
...How her personal workload has shifted — now just three short on-site days a week — and what she’s beginning to delegate.
Jessalyn closes with heartfelt advice for prospective owners: learn from people who have already done it, set boundaries early, and don’t let the business drain the energy you need to run it well.
If you’re planning, opening, or in your first couple of years, this episode is packed with practical insight and honest reflection.
TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplayroomwv
WEBSITE: www.theplayroomwv.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theplayroomwv/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/theplayroomwv
PLAY SPACE BRAIN: https://playspacebrain.com/
PROFITABLE PLAY RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:
Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS: Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS
More from The Profitable Play Podcast
Why do some indoor playgrounds and play cafés become profitable, sustainable businesses while others stay stuck, even when they have similar concepts, markets and opportunities?
After more than a decade in the indoor playground industry, I've developed a little bit of a sixth sense for decisions that look great on opening day but can become expensive, inefficient or incredibly frustrating later.
In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Steve and Dave from Lilliput Playhomes to talk about what really goes into designing and building play equipment for commercial spaces.
In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Charlotte from Children’s Factory to talk all about designing indoor play spaces that are intentional, engaging, durable, and built for the way children actually play.
In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Karri Bowen-Poole, founder of Smart Playrooms, a design firm specializing in creating intentional play spaces for both homes and commercial facilities. We explore what makes a truly great play environment and how thoughtful design can encourage independence, spark imagination, support child development, and create a better experience for both children and their caregivers.