354: Managing Parties, Capacity, and Staff in a Large Play Café With Kristina Lai From Busy Bee Play Cafe
The Profitable Play PodcastShow Notes
What does it actually take to run a successful play café once you’re past the opening phase—especially when your space is larger than most independent, non-franchise-chain locations?
In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Kristina Lai, owner of Busy Bee Play Cafe in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their 8,500+ sq ft facility is on the larger side for a non-chain indoor playground business, which brings its own unique challenges and advantages.
On the challenge side, a larger space means a bigger team (often with a high number of teenage staff), higher capacity to manage, more moving parts operationally, and the ability—and pressure—to run a high volume of birthday parties every single week.
On the flip side, that size also creates real opportunities: multiple parties running at once, diversified revenue streams beyond open play, a full balloon bar, stronger café potential, and more flexibility in how the business actually makes money.
In this conversation, Kristina shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how she navigates both sides of that equation.
We cover:
...Operating a larger independent play café without franchise systems ...Managing a large, mostly teenage team in peak seasons ...Running a high volume of birthday parties each week—and why systems matter ...Hosting multiple parties at the same time without overwhelming staff or guests ...Real revenue breakdowns: open play, parties, memberships, café sales, retail, and balloons ...Building a profitable balloon business after Party City closures ...Using reservations and memberships to control capacity in a high-traffic space ...When memberships attract the wrong families—and how to handle it ...Letting go of problem members and employees (and why some money isn’t worth it) ...Launching hot food in a play café without turning it into a full restaurant ...The emotional toll of running a large play business and being “always on call” ...How ownership impacts family life when your kids grow up alongside the business
This episode is especially helpful if you: ...Own or are planning on opening a play café or indoor playground ...Are considering (or already running) a larger-than-average independent space ...Run frequent birthday parties and want better systems ...Want multiple revenue streams without burning out ...Are managing staffing, capacity, or boundaries
👉 Busy Bee Play Cafe Website: https://www.thebusybeeplaycafe.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusybeeplaycafe/
🎧 Prefer video? Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/xIss67qwn3I
OTHER 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.