Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen and Jody Clark.
Jen and Jody, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Jody and I (Jen) are a local family, both in IT Security Sales careers, with a 19 year old son, Eric (attending LeTourneau University) and a five year old daughter, Lexi (entering Folsom Elementary in Prosper as a Kinder this Fall). I am very entrepreneurial and always looking to invent, create or build something and the idea of an indoor children’s jungle gym in Prosper (where we have nothing similar) won the approval of my husband, Jody (so many of my ideas did not and rightfully so if you ever sat down and listened to them!). We spent just a couple of months finding our location and suppliers, etc.
It then took nearly one year from signing our lease to opening our doors to Prosper Playhouse in December of 2019. We strive to keep a very clean and safe play place. We have a large play structure that even parents enjoy running through (and can see their children anywhere in), separate toddler soft play area, adult games (Pong and Foosball), televisions for games and movies and music playing! We have a cafe with snacks and cold drinks and craft espresso drinks as well as a party room for birthday parties, events and now an alternative schooling/meeting space for rent (complete with WiFi, projector, projector screen and Chromebook). This was our dream come to fruition and already feel like our customers are fast becoming our friends (and almost family in some cases!)
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was a serious challenge in the building, certificate and compliance process through the City and the Fire Department. The process was long, repetitive and not always friendly! Then the next challenge was having to close our doors when the COVID pandemic hit… we had just barely been open three months. But our doors are opened back up and we will survive!
Please tell us about Prosper Playhouse.
We are very clean, very friendly and very involved. Our party process sets us apart as we take parental stress away and let you enjoy your child’s birthday while we manage the ins/outs! We actually just won Prosper/Celina’s best birthday venue by votes through Living Magazine!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The cost was probably two times what we thought it would have been to build… so depending on when you ask us this, the answer might be ‘not to build it’! Seriously though, we would have done more research on the business elements and building process so that we would have been more knowledgeable ourselves rather than relying on our contractors and architects… it could have saved time and money!
Contact Info:
- Address: 550 Industry way, Ste 10 (bldg 5)
Prosper, TX 75078 - Website: www.prosperplayhouse.com
- Phone: 972-292-8474
- Email: play@prosperplayhouse.com
- Instagram: Prosperplayhouse
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/prosperplayhouse
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_lP02h84CYXf5eHxYSq8zg
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